Academic Life

THURS., JAN. 28, 1988, 10:07 AM
FARM, STUDY

This is the secular life you are privileged to have and to enjoy. Other “lives” would have been possible, and I could have used your spirit in other ways, too (for I am supremely adaptable), but I did do some leading of you into this life work. You have been, as you should have been, quite above average and less than outstanding in your total career. And you still have some years yet to develop. About these is the Teaching for this day.

Academic life obviously involves teaching. This is a great love of yours, and you do it sufficiently well to continue for some time. I shall remind you again that you are to move toward including more and more spirit in your classes, worrying less and less about specific content. Obviously this could not be proper guidance for all those who teach in your subject area, yet there are some who could include more, even as they still focus on content. You have earned this shift in emphasis, and you are able to justify it well by your definitions and descriptions of health.

Last evening you found yourself enjoying the informal presentation around the table, and then you felt the old need to continue to “cover the material.” Continue to savor such moments and times, and feel less discomfort in continuing them. You shall not become an aimless rambler, but it is good for you to have such continuing misses with a class. Those students with the most developed spirits will appreciate these most. And these are those you need to influence most.

From teaching, counseling comes quite naturally. You know that this is not your major role in life, but, as I have told you many times, you must take the opportunities that arise, for some of these I truly send to you for purposes of Mine. Listen and respond with your spirit. Worry little about specific techniques. Your role is to be an experienced professional man, in maturity, with a strong, developing spirit. That’s all you need for what you need to accomplish.

Another important facet of academic life is writing. You have not done well with this aspect of your life… in the academic sense. I have urged you toward several papers that would be important to have in your field’s literature, and you have not responded. So I shall continue to urge. Then I shall add that I am pleased with the four quarterly “issues” of your Ruminations, and I am pleased that you see this as a priority, and shall continue this unique use of these Teachings. I know and you know that I often ask more of you than you are willing to produce (you still could do all that I suggest), but if I want something I shall continue to nag you until you fulfill the need.

You have done little writing in conjunction with others. This has not been satisfying to you, but I say, “Give it a try.” You have promised Rick. He is a special young man to you… and to Me. I nudge you to give attention to that paper. He and I are both pushing you.

You need not seek further service opportunities now, but take those that are offered. You have two good ones this semester, and that’s probably enough. Do not put off too long your preparation for these, particularly the one focusing on the family. After your sabbatical time it should be appropriate to pick up some more “outside responsibilities.” Academic life allows and is enriched by such ventures into the surrounding “life.”