Many years ago, a young priest told me he was going to do his doctorate. Now, I know that doctorates for priests in our country are a dime a dozen and many small colleges and seminaries offer the same, “Why do you want to do it?” I asked.
“So that I can do research into that particular angle of theology and it will help me in my sermons,” he said.
“Then do it by all means,” I told him, “As long as you make good music with it and it is not something you are just collecting, do it!”
He looked at me askance: And I repeated the story of a violinist:
‘An enchanting story about violinist Fritz Kreisler,’ I told him, ‘tells how he once came across a beautiful instrument he wanted to acquire. When he finally raised the money for the violin, he returned to buy it and learned that it had already been sold to a collector.’
‘He went to the new owner’s home in order to try to persuade him to sell the violin. But the collector said it was one of his prized possessions and he could not let it go. The disappointed Kreisler turned to leave, but then asked a favor. “May I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?”
‘Permission was granted and the great musician began to play. The violin sang out a quality of music so beautiful that the collector himself could only listen in wonderment. “I have no right to keep that to myself,” he said after the musician finished. “The violin is yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it.”
The priest nodded to me, “Yes,” he said, “I understand what you are saying! I will make good music with my doctorate!”
To you my readers, “How many of us are like that collector, we get married to a talented woman, but hide her within the walls of our house, making her our collector’s item when she could make beautiful music with her many talents?’
‘We marry of our daughter before she can develop into an individual! Sometimes they are trained to be doctors and professionals in their field, and instead of allowing them or our daughters- in- law to work, we pin their doctorates to their sarees just to show them off to the world, and keep them at home as showpieces!’
But worse off are they that gather and collect degrees and doctorates just to flaunt them around. Use them and use your learning well but don’t put them on your letterhead or behind your name or in front as a collector’s item..!
————————————————-
Would love to hear from you in the COMMENTS section below…and IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE BOB’S BANTER EVERYDAY, PLEASE SEND YOUR NAME AND WHATSAPP PHONE NO TO [email protected]
————————————————–
ENROLL FOR THE WRITER’s COURSE…
…Get trained to write powerfully by the author, whose article you just read! Don’t wait! Send a thumbs up for details to 9892572883 and let Robert Clements train you in his easy and comfortable way Let the power of WORDS spoken and written effectively and forcefully, change your life! Join the Writer’s and Speaker’s Course, July Batch TODAY! Send a thumbsup to 9892572883 now!
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Very insightful. Unfortunately, none of us use our true potential personally or professionally.
And this is how the Pareto principle has come into existence and effect.
Thought provoking. Most of us dont utilize our full potential due to hindrances, personal and professional. The work-life balance ratio and timelines in life sometimes is tough to accomplish for most of us. However, passion and perseverance can break those barriers. Where there is a will, there will always be a way!
Yes. You’re right Bobby. I’d rather not sit at home with a doctorate decorating the wall like a wall flower after spending years on a seat that someone else found caused admissions to be closed being the last seat.
Agree