- Joshua 1:9 NIV
Hello again,
I hope all is well and life is good.
I wanted to add to my monthly blog in regards to my journey of joining the Peace Corps. I wanted to share with you where I am now, what I have been experiencing, and how I have been preparing for the Peace Corps. As of today, I have 23 days left. I am getting excited and nervous about my experience. Although I am not there yet, I have been reading a plethora of books, blogs, journals, and documents. I already feel that I am changing. What I mean by this is that I am open to the new culture, language, and opportunities that will be presented to me. I am eager to jump in and learn of the people and share my experiences so that they can learn of me. I am getting in the mindset of a volunteer. I am preparing my heart, mind and spirit to go on a journey that is sure to change my world perspective and viewpoint. It is my hope that my blogs, videos, facebook and twitter posts, and, letters will serve to demonstrate the tremendous growth that I will experience.
In addition, I plan to use this experience for professional development and growth. Using the blogs will serve as my blackboard (if you will). It is my hope that you will serve as fellow colleagues that are critiquing my work and using constructive criticism to further my development. Please examine my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to my growth as an educator and student affairs professional. It is my goal to use this opportunity to work on my writing skills, to expand my vocabulary, to dig deeper in my critical thinking skills, and to think differently about the way I see the world through writing. I will have these blogs to look back on in the event that one day I will share my experience in a classroom or in a book. So I am laying out my course objectives, expectations, and syllabus for this amazing class. My office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1pm - 3pm. The require text is an open mind. Discussion board posts are worth 10 points. Grades will be posted at the end of the semester. NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED! LOL.
Moreover, I plan to use this journey to grow spiritually and intellectually. Some would think to separate the two spheres of the person, however, I do not. On one hand, the spiritual side of a person is ones connection to a higher being or realm (if one chooses to believe in such). On the other, the intellectual being is used to critically examine the arts, literature, culture, music, education, and other avenues of mental activity. I combine these two because I believe that the two are essential to the framework that makes up a person. The spirit connects to the Creator for guidance and direction. The intellect connects to the spirit to understand the directions of the Creator and develop strategies to engage in activities that foster safe spaces to critically analyze the world. Using both spiritual and intellectual guidance, I plan to engage the world anew. In fact, bell hooks stated that, "many spiritual teachers - in Buddhism, in Islam - have talked about first-hand experience of the world as an important part of the path to wisdom, to enlightenment" (See Agent of Change, 1992). This is how I see my own spiritual and intellectual development.
As a result, I am starting my journey of this first-hand experience of the world to gain new wisdom and enlightenment. I think it is necessary to inform you, the reader, that I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. But my development as a follower of Christ has been one that is always critical of myself, my religion, and other Christians. By no means in a negative way, but in a way that will make it better. As an educator, I am always critical of everything. I do not and will not take things as face value. I critically examine the world in which I live. For without examination we are all drones following commands without conscious thought or processes. In Plato's Apology, Socrates stated that, "the unexamined life is not worth living." You cannot and should not live this life without examining all of its factors. On the same coin, Malcolm X stated that, "the examined life is painful." If one were to examine life and all of its painful truths, one would have to face it or be ignorant of the wealth that wisdom has to offer. Therefore, I examine Christianity with a critical eye to understand my God and His ways a little better. I examine questions like, what does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to be an intellectual or academic? Can the two even coexist? At the same time, I examine it in hopes to become a better educator. I believe that education is key to a successful life. "Education is the passport to the future," as Malcolm X stated. Therefore, I do my best to fulfill the Great Commission by educating "the least of these." (Matt. 25:31-46). It is my hope that souls are saved and given the tools through education to live a better life. I believe that if you give a man a fish, you will feed him for a day. But if you teach him HOW to fish you will feed him for a lifetime.
On a more personal level of my faith in Christ, I believe God is taking me on this journey to prepare me for ministry. I will only share briefly on this topic but I believe God is moving me closer to my destiny and calling in Christ, to "do the work of an evangelist." (2 Tim. 4:5). To say the least, I am a scholar, a black intellectual, a Christian, a budding college president, and a politician at times! But without Christ in my life, there is no other way! I owe God so much. So from this moment on, I dedicate myself to live my life for the Lord, to serve Him, to give Him glory through my educational pursuits, and to acknowledge Him in all my ways. This past month (June 2013) has been a trying one. I have been tested and tried. But I believe God is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all that I ask or think according to the power that works in me. Most importantly, this trying month is the testing of the genuineness of my faith, to show my heart, and to prepare me to serve in the Peace Corps. If I were to tell you my testimony, you would not believe what I have gone through. But God has made ways and open doors. He is amazing! Therefore, I pledged to Him to serve Him for the rest of my life! Now, I must say this to cover myself. I understand that the Peace Corps is a non-religious organization that represents the United States of America. This blog does not represent the views of the Peace Corps or of the United States of America. This is a personal blog to share my thoughts and growth. It is my hope that you will join me in this journey to the glory of God. Here am I Lord, send me!
In service to Him,
Eugene Smith, M. A.
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