Graduation and Reexamining The Concept of Imram

So now I have a title that sounds like a thesis. I'm moderately haunted by theses it seems, just because I read everyone's thesis titles in the program. Oh, and MW's computer is now named Rufina. I helped with that. St.Rufina's feastday is April 6th. She is a fourth century Spanish saint.

Maybe I should ask her help on some more serious issues. So today I graduated with a BA in English Language and Literature. Monday, I start TESOL classes. God willing.

All right, reexamining the concept of Imram. I'm no less determined than I was before, on the contrary, I'm more determined. But the whole concept of Imram is something I need to remind myself of. Okay... Here goes.

It's hard. It's incredibly hard. You make a raft out of sticks and skins. You might pack food and water if you're not ready to totally rely on Divine Providence. You might just pack a fishing line and hope for the best. You don't have a paddle, or a rudder, or a sail. You push off into deep, dark, cold waters. Uncharted territory. You might not ever come back. And you take a deep breath and say "Non nobis Domine."

And you're off.

See, the imram-going individuals didn't usually have families. They were frequently religious of various orders. They'd renounced everything to follow where they thought Christ wanted them to go. I don't know if my landbound-imram is what God wants for me, but I seriously think it is. Part of the challenge is not being one hundred percent sure. But I'd say I'm somewhere in the high eighties- low nineties as far as certainty goes. And I can count on it that if He doesn't want me doing something He'll put His foot down. But it'll be Him, not my family. 

I understand the concept of responsibility. I have been and will continue to be responsible. If I am making the minimum loan payments every month, that counts as being responsible. So far the poll is split nearly 50/50, two for, two against. 

No one ever said it was going to be easy sailing. There are choppy waters, there is freezing rain, and there are huge waves that threaten to sink the imram-bound. But the essential thing is to trust that His plan is good.

Non Nobis Domine!