Ought I do what I want, or what I'm good at?

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Now this the title alone is a tad misleading so I shall explain. First off theres two main roads I can go (forget my “I’m going to be a soldier” thread from a couple months ago…my cousin talked me out of it 😛 ) which are, being a commercial pilot, or going down the theology/philosophy route, being a pilot is the one I want to do, theology is the one people around me say, “meets my intellectual capability.” But, as I see it, I want to do something fun that I enjoy, rather than something that satisfies what others feel my intellectual capability is. Which is a reasonable assumption I think, but I feel like God has given me a gift, somewhat atleast, I’m no Benedict on theological matters, in critical thinking and seeing the truth and logic in Church teaching, and I feel like I won’t be serving the Church if I become a pilot. But then I may not be serving God if He wants me to be a pilot. AHHH Anyone have God’s phone number, I’ll just give him a ring and settle this in the next 5 minutes.
 
Is there any way you can do both? Pilots seem to have plenty of free time - maybe not while gaining their qualifications, but once they start working.
 
I could, only thing is one is going to compromise the other. If I’m going to be a pilot I can’t afford to go to Rome and studied there as I was thinking I would do…and I don’t really want to do philosophy here in Canada…I’m sure its ridiculously secular and liberal.
 
CHCatholic said:
Now this the title alone is a tad misleading so I shall explain. First off theres two main roads I can go (forget my “I’m going to be a soldier” thread from a couple months ago…my cousin talked me out of it 😛 ) which are, being a commercial pilot, or going down the theology/philosophy route, being a pilot is the one I want to do, theology is the one people around me say, “meets my intellectual capability.” But, as I see it, I want to do something fun that I enjoy, rather than something that satisfies what others feel my intellectual capability is. Which is a reasonable assumption I think, but I feel like God has given me a gift, somewhat atleast, I’m no Benedict on theological matters, in critical thinking and seeing the truth and logic in Church teaching, and I feel like I won’t be serving the Church if I become a pilot. But then I may not be serving God if He wants me to be a pilot. AHHH Anyone have God’s phone number, I’ll just give him a ring and settle this in the next 5 minutes.
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Anything that will take extensive schooling requires passion. If you are not passionate about theology, then I say don’t pursue it. I’m thinking it will require at least six years or eight of study to obtain an advanced degree so that you can work in the field.

I think you should adjust your thinking however. If only theologicans serve God, then we are in big trouble. You can bring souls to God in any profession. 🙂 It’s more important to become virtuous, prayerful and full of God’s grace. In this way, you can bring souls to God both through prayer, example and direct ministry. A brilliant theologian isn’t going to save any souls if he is not close to God. A devout Catholic pilot will have as much impact.

It would be nice if God were more clear. Go do this or go do that. I’d appreciate it. But, my experience is that even when God is very clear, it doesn’t make it easier to conform our will to His when we are inclined to go a different route.
 
leonie said:
Anything that will take extensive schooling requires passion. If you are not passionate about theology, then I say don’t pursue it. I’m thinking it will require at least six years or eight of study to obtain an advanced degree so that you can work in the field.

I.
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this is excellent advice.

you do not need an advanced degree in theology in order to study it and become literate in it. you do not need a theology degree to evangelize, to apologize for the Faith, or to serve the Church, either.

if you are at the stage of your life where you are easily swayed and influenced by the opinions of others, such as your cousin, this is not the time to make decisions that call for total commitment, such as the military, advanced study in foreign country etc.
 
Puzzleannie is pretty smart. 😉

On a side note… You don’t have to fly commercial airliners in order to still be a pilot. You can learn to be a pilot and fly yourself to Rome to study. 🙂
 
CHCatholic said:
AHHH Anyone have God’s phone number, I’ll just give him a ring and settle this in the next 5 minutes.
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I do have God’s phone number! 🙂 … and you too!!!
This is God’s phone number: P-R-A-Y-E-R 😉 and the area code is T-R-U-S-T 👍
What I think is a little mistaken is that we would settle such important issues with God in 5 minutes …:nope:
The decision is not God’s but ours with God’s help, and it is more of a process than a right-or-wrong thing. We see and ponder what we would like, what we could do, and then start moving forward probing things and possibilities. Then we see that some things are not viable, or we lose interest, or something happens… That’s God’s piece in the conversation with our human authonomy and our free will -which is sacred, it’s God’s gift to use in discerning.
We may even start walking a path and after some time there we realize that this is not working for us … but we’ve learned a lot in the process of trying it, and maybe we’ve become ready now for the real path.
This is an exciting time for you, I’ll be praying for wisdom, patience, and courage, and peace to see the path. You are getting some good pieces of advice as I read in the thread here, and I’m sure you’ll find your way forward. Many blessings on you.
Peace!
 
It sounds like some people have been saying that you might be good at theology/philosophy, and possibly even have a vocation to priesthood (if I remember right you were the one that wanted to go into the military before seminary??).

Have you considered that God might make good use of both inklings put together? (piloting and priesthood). My campus minster is part of some priest-pilot’s association and regularly teaches flying lessons (small planes) to some interested students at the catholic student center. He once told me that he has considered asking to transfer to the diocese of Anchorage because there is a real need for priests who are pilots up there (flying from one parish to another). Not that you have to follow that course but it’s not so far-fetched.
 
Pray and follow your heart. You may have a vocation to serve the church, but becoming a pilot will not necessarily compromise that (or vice versa). If it helps, one of my favorite professors in undergrad was a Jesuit priest who had earned his PhD in anatomy. The guy was a walking vertebrate anatomy textbook and an incredible prof, but that didn’t make him any less of a priest. He managed to balance the two quite successfully, and inspired a lot of students along the way.
 
SeekerJen said:
Pray and follow your heart. You may have a vocation to serve the church, but becoming a pilot will not necessarily compromise that (or vice versa). If it helps, one of my favorite professors in undergrad was a Jesuit priest who had earned his PhD in anatomy. The guy was a walking vertebrate anatomy textbook and an incredible prof, but that didn’t make him any less of a priest. He managed to balance the two quite successfully, and inspired a lot of students along the way.
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I had two priests and a nun as professors (two in relgion and one is sociology).

Rev North
 
CHCatholic said:
But, as I see it, I want to do something fun that I enjoy, rather than something that satisfies what others feel my intellectual capability is.
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Not to brag or anything 😃 , but my husband is the smartest man I know, has an engineering degree (waaaay too many calculus classes!!), and is a pilot. You have to be intelligent to be a good pilot. I remember helping him study for ground school and various certifications. It saddens me that people think being a pilot somehow reflects poorly on someone’s “intellectual capability.” 😦

Okay, all that said, my husband often talks about wanting to fly for the Diocese when he retires from his engineering job (or when we win the lottery, whichever comes first 😃 ). My understanding is that an on-call pilot would be very useful for any diocese, and as others have stated, if you become a priest, being a pilot would just be too nifty!

Had my husband and I not married, he would have been a commercial pilot (pilots aren’t paid much until a lot later in their careers). He has his commercial license, but since the terrorist attacks of September 11, he has not felt that the industry is where it needs to be in order for him to take the risk in going any further. Now that he has a wife and family to support, a starting pilot’s wages would not be sufficient.

It’s a long, hard road to be a pilot who works for a major airline. And intelligent people make intelligent pilots.

Check this out, too, in your spare time:

jetcareers.com/

If you love flying, it’s in your soul. That love never goes away. Once you’ve been up in that plane, and completely fallen in love, there is no going back. My heart breaks that my husband can’t fly as much as he wants to. It’s always there, it always calls out to you. If flying is your passion, CH, then by all means, do it.

Oh, yeah, and I agree with Leonie, who said it is possible to be a good, devout Catholic and evangelize while being a pilot.

Wow, sorry that was so long… :o
 
the famous Jesuit priest who ministered to his extended flock in Alaska by flying his own plane to remote areas, has died, and they are desperate for someone to fill his shoes. If the priesthood is your vocation, and flying becomes your avocation, I certainly hope you will consider it.
 
RevDrNorth said:
Here you go. One of Stanley Kubrick’s first films (short - called the Flying Padre)

youtube.com/watch?v=XZtdBQmG17k

Rev North
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This video struck me on a variety of levels. First, thanks to Dr. North for the link. Shades of Sky King when I was a boy (that was a popular Saturday morning TV program back in the 50s). Shades of being an altar boy back then too and of seeing my sister and the girls on the block with that same hairdo. I kept expecting Beaver and Ward to show up. 😛

I couldn’t help but think about Father Leo (on these forums) up there in Montana driving all over creation to serve his three parishes and Annie, I’m sure that the situation is even worse up in Alaska. I’m sure Our Lord could use a priest or religious who can fly.
 
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