When he had finished putting four children through private school and university, my father retired from an illustrious career in Law, and retrained as a parish priest.
I think that is what I should do too: to pursue, once practical responsibilities are out of the way, my true calling.
My father had been a lay preacher for twenty-five years by that point, so the choice for his second career was not that surprising, following in my mother’s footsteps.
What will I do? Perhaps it will have something to do with my first degree: social development, poverty alleviation or charity work. Or something practical like working the land. Or just some subtle deriverative of what I do now.
The what right now is the great unknown. This is the start of a ten year plan, looking ahead to our children completing their education and heading out into the world.
Like my father, I will have to maintain course for the sake of a stable salary for as long as the children are dependent on us. But when that moment has passed, perhaps we will then pursue our dreams.
To live in that house, if the Most Merciful wills, to grow our own food in pursuit of a simpler life. Well, these are our dreams, but who knows what the future holds. Allahu alam.
Last modified: 22 September 2024
