[DYBoulet]

Greetings, fellow Peakers.

I'll spare you an introduction as to who I am by simply stating that I am a returning small contributor to these forums.

For now, I just need to publish this to some potentially like-minded people.

On February 25th, 2008, my stability and sense of security in life took a severe hit as my plan A collapsed. All through 2007, and part of 2006, I had planned to go into the priesthood, despite my sometimes too liberal (deemed heretical) opinions. In short, I was denied access to the seminary due to my young age (I turned 19 on February 27th) and lack of academic preparedness for theological studies. I can't blame them, their just doing their job...

Thankfully, I have a kind-of had a Plan B, as one should always have one, though sadly I didn't develop it as much as I should have.

This plan is, quite simply, to work towards a more self-sufficient life. By this I mean, life of the farmer. Thankfully, I live in a rural area where there's plenty of land and ressources for me to become fairly sufficient, provided I am educated as to how to work with nature.

Becoming self-sufficient of course, takes time. I probably never will be 100% self-sufficient, but each year, I can take steps towards this ideal of self-sufficiency.

Which, hopefully, will better prepare me for what's coming up in an encroaching post-oil age.

Now, as I'm working towards this, I just feel everyone around me is cynical and looking down on me with an expectation of failure. This is what gets irritating, because I feel even the people closest to me spit on my second plan in life, just as much as they did for my first one to become a priest!

What is it about an honest, self-sufficient husbandman that evokes such disdain? Is it because he stands out from the norm? Is it because people are envious and jealous? Or could it be that those older people who look upon me, having known the hard labour of farm life, want to save their little boy of what they perceive as a mass of suffering when it could otherwise be so much easier?

Or all of the above, perhaps?

Thank you everyone...

P.-S.: I should stress that I am very much aware of the hard work living a self-sufficient life requires. I was raised on a sylvicultural farm and am used to hard, back-breaking, finger-freezing manual labour. I just think work shouldn't be demonized as suffering. It can in fact be quite pleasurable!

[DomusAlbion]

DYBoulet,

Might you consider becoming a brother in one of the many fine monasteries in North America? There you would have community and religious affiliation plus you would be living a self sustaining life and sharing the workload.

Just a thought to what might be a good blending of both your goals.

[Heineken]

Try putting less weight on what other people think about your plans and preferences.

You're 19. Time to liberate yourself from the chains and shackles of your formative years spent in the shadow of powerful adults.

If you want to be a farmer you will need to buy a farm. To buy a farm you'll need money. To get money you'll need a job.

Or . . . yes, you could become a monk doing agricultural work at some remote monastery. That definitely sounds like a plan to me.

I love manual labor out on the land. It's how I spend my days, by choice, even though I'm financially independent.

[camefromthecorn]

Ask your priest, what would he do in a post-oil-age?

[Concerned]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('camefromthecorn', 'A')sk your priest, what would he do in a post-oil-age?

[RdSnt]

At 19 you are too young to choose the priesthood, and from your lack of generosity in your writings it is fairly clear you are not ready.
I don' t hear the calling of God in your words, just the typical self-focus of a young man.

You are also too young to own a farm, even though property in NB is relatively cheap. I've lived there for many years and worked the land, it is good soil but much of it is neglected.

You say you grew up on a farm, does this mean your family still owns it?
If so you should work there and learn from your family. Perhaps with demonstrated diligences you will convince them to expand the farm to include the notion of self-sufficiency.
You are correct in one thing, no one is self-sufficient.

Practice and demonstrate humility and people will start to listen

[FourOfSwords]

DY, I like Domus' and Heinekens idea to work in a Monastery...well said.
Do not worry about what other people may say or think about your life choices. Remember, in life there are things we can control, and things we cannot. Those things that are external to ourselves like peoples opinions and actions are beyond our control, and not your concern. Worrying about them or trying to change them will only lead to unhappiness.
The things that ARE in our control, and hence our concern, are those things internal. Our feelings,thoughts and resultantly our actions. These are things worthy of your own personal effort. These will, with time bring peace and happiness.
Sorry to go philisophical on you. Do what your heart tells you is right, and don't worry about the rest.
Cheers, and good luck.
Alex(happily stoic, and working on being at peace with the world)

[Dukkha]

Just to second (third?) the suggestions about monasteries. I went to a school attached to a Benedictine monastery in the south of England. The monastery had - as far as I can remember - huge amounts of land which they managed and a fairly vibrant lay community which, I'm sure, would welcome someone like you. Obviously this is on the wrong continent but I find it hard to believe that something similar isn't going to be available closer to your neck of the woods.

[DYBoulet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RdSnt', 'A')t 19 you are too young to choose the priesthood, and from your lack of generosity in your writings it is fairly clear you are not ready.
I don' t hear the calling of God in your words, just the typical self-focus of a young man.

You are also too young to own a farm, even though property in NB is relatively cheap. I've lived there for many years and worked the land, it is good soil but much of it is neglected.

...

Practice and demonstrate humility and people will start to listen

[DYBoulet]

Thank you everyone for your advice, it is greatly appreciated!

[RdSnt]

It comes quite naturally to a man who has loved and raised children.

You think I'm harsh? Just wait till God gets a hold of you.


$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DYBoulet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RdSnt', 'A')t 19 you are too young to choose the priesthood, and from your lack of generosity in your writings it is fairly clear you are not ready.
I don' t hear the calling of God in your words, just the typical self-focus of a young man.

You are also too young to own a farm, even though property in NB is relatively cheap. I've lived there for many years and worked the land, it is good soil but much of it is neglected.

...

Practice and demonstrate humility and people will start to listen

[POAlex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RdSnt', 'Y')ou think I'm harsh? Just wait till God gets a hold of you.

[Ferretlover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DYBoulet', 'N')ow I remember why I left these forums long ago...
How can you judge me so harshly?

[jedinvest]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DYBoulet', '
')Now I remember why I left these forums long ago...

How can you judge me so harshly?

[s0cks]

As we live in a world of free speech I should be allowed to voice my opinion.

What is this God cr*p?

You should be glad you didn't get to priesthood. It would have only of held you back. To be free of religion is to be truely free. To know you are not being critized for every action you take is truely free. To know you make your own destiny is truely to be free.

And don't give me the "you should respect my...." line. I can do as i please. Just as I choose not to respect drug addicts.

Let go of your chains. Get onto your Plan B and go for it. Do not wait around wandering what God thinks, or what other people think. To be self-sustainable will be a huge satisfaction and freedom in itself.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one-half the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.
-- Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, 1781-82

[Heineken]

Make Nature your god, and do good works for Him and dwell in His spirit.

To me that makes far more sense than bending your knees to some Yaw-Weh invented by cruel old bearded men thousands of years ago to solve their political problems.

[s0cks]

Right on. If you wish to "believe" then atleast do so in the form of a deist. You can free your mind body and spirit without Him.

Atleast you are on the right path eitherway. Good luck!

[killJOY]

That's really a sweet post, DYB.


I was once a devout, 19-year-old. I even contemplated entering the priesthood, or a monestary.




I'm now a 48-year-old pissed off faggot with a wicked knack for growing huge onions.




The mind. It's a terrible thing to waste.

[Revi]

Maybe this is a turn in your spiritual path. If god is guiding you, maybe it isn't meant to be right now. You may have some other mission waiting for you beyond the priesthood.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RdSnt', 'I')t comes quite naturally to a man who has loved and raised children.

You think I'm harsh? Just wait till God gets a hold of you.


$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DYBoulet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RdSnt', 'A')t 19 you are too young to choose the priesthood, and from your lack of generosity in your writings it is fairly clear you are not ready.
I don' t hear the calling of God in your words, just the typical self-focus of a young man.

You are also too young to own a farm, even though property in NB is relatively cheap. I've lived there for many years and worked the land, it is good soil but much of it is neglected.

...

Practice and demonstrate humility and people will start to listen