Doctoral Journey - Month One
Doctoral Journey - Month One
A Beautiful Struggle
May - June 2024
Personal Reflections
I’m one month into my studies in the ThD program at United Theological Seminary and, boy oh boy, is it challenging! I seriously struggled this past month, not necessarily with the coursework, but with time/life management. Pursuing this degree as a husband, father of five, pastor, etc., is possible, but I’ve discovered that it will require three things: a more simplified life, making and sticking to my own deadlines, and more reliance on God.
A Simplified Life
There are so many things clamoring for our attention nowadays, so many notifications and opportunities to spend mental energy in places where there is no profit. I have removed as many of them as possible, stripping all social media from my phone, deleting apps that send unnecessary pings throughout the day, exiting group chats in which I don’t contribute, etc. These are small things, but they add up.
Sticking to Personal Deadlines
I realized that I couldn’t afford to wait and do the assignments when the professors say they are due. One week I had a sermon to prepare for, two papers to submit, over 400 pages of reading assigned, in addition to the normal demands of life. I got it all done… and I learned the lesson along the way. Making my own deadline already feels healthier.
Reliance on God
One of the books assigned that made an immediate impact is The Intellectual Life, by A.G. Sertillanges. In it he points to the kind of person one must become if they are to do intellectual work in the Lord’s service. It won’t be enough to only expend myself reading, researching, and writing; I must also grow deeper in prayer and reliance upon him, who is the fount of all wisdom and knowledge, and adopt the ascetic lifestyle that would open me up to receive more grace and revelation from him as I study.
Indeed, a practice I’ve begun is to read and pray through a chapter in Daniel every day. Those four young men, one of whom is my namesake, were a model for how to do intellectual work (or really any kind of work). In chapter 1, Daniel resolved to be loyal to God, rather than defile himself by eating the food and drink the king provided. Because of his commitment to God, God responded by blessing them with greater intellectual capacity.
“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning… In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom” (Daniel 1:17,20).
To be sure, they studied diligently, stretching their minds to understand what was being taught. As they did so, God worked with them, bringing about a supernatural result. This example of devotion to God and diligence in work is what I want to characterize my doctoral journey.
Academic Progress
I’m taking two courses right now:
Scholarship for Church Renewal:
This course consists of several books that highlight different aspects of church renewal, from considerations of the Divine Missions, to the role of worldview theories.
This course is helping me get back into the habit of reading academically, making annotations, and critically engaging the authors’ ideas.
Advanced Theological Research Methods
The goal of this course is as the title suggests, to teach advanced research methods.
Although it’s not one of the classes I was looking forward to, it’s one of the most important. It reminds me of Jesus’s words in Luke 14:28: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” This class is helping me learn to lay the proper foundation for all my future academic and scholarly work.
Community and Networking Opportunities
Mentors and Clutch Advice
In my first month of coursework, I’ve received a lot of valuable help and advice. Thank you to: Bridget Weatherspoon, Scott Kisker, Seth Gaiters, Tom Clark, and Jason Hentschel. May the Lord richly bless you for how you’ve blessed me.
YouTube is amazing! I’ve learned a lot about how to do “academic reading,” annotation methods, and literary review methods. YouTube might be in the running for one of the most impactful inventions ever!
I’ve also learned about a ton of conferences I could attend in the future to present papers I will write and receive helpful critique. I am looking forward to this phase of the journey!
What’s Next and Prayer Requests
🙏 This month I am preparing for our two-week intensive in July. I’m responsible for preparing a 1.5-hour lecture on a method of informal logic. I would appreciate prayers for understanding, wisdom, creativity, and clarity.
🙏 I’m continuing to test different methods to best manage my time and complete assignments. By next month, I hope to report on one that has been working well.
🙏 We students are already thinking about our dissertation topics. Because Dallas Willard has been so influential in my life, his work might become the subject of my dissertation. Continued prayers would be appreciated.
Gratitude!
A few people have sent encouraging notes, let me know how they’re praying, and/or contributed to my tuition!
If you feel so inclined to help with tuition, you can use the button below. All you need to do is put my name where it says: “Student account payment to be applied to: (Meshach Kanyion)”
Also, if you’re aware of an organization that offers educational grants or scholarships for students please let me know.
Ain’t nobody got time for debt!
I’m right there with you! I’ve been slowly making my way through a master’s program at Westminster Theological Seminary for a few years now and the adjustments are tough. Learning Greek and Hebrew were particularly demanding. The struggle for me has been not letting everything I’m learning remain *just* academic, but working it deep into my heart so that I grow closer to the Lord throughout the process. Is this academic work? Yes, but it is also incredibly practical, both for my own spiritual formation and for my preaching, teaching, and leadership. Praying for you brother!
What an amazing journey! I, too like semi-cons. Lol. I like what you said about reading. Not reading just to regurgitate information but to dissect a read to challenge our thinking.