2012 and beyond

Having completed all the research studies for my Masters degree, and a Masters thesis that will be done by early 2012, I have set my sight on 2012 and beyond. I have been accepted into a Doctoral Program at St.Stephen's College, University of Alberta ( pictured is St.Stephen's College ). It means that the goal of "going back to school at 65," has taken on a new dimension that will take me to age 70. My focus will be the Intersection of Art, Critical Thought, and the Kingdom of God, and I begin early in January 2012.

To chronicle my doctoral journey, I have created an additional blog. So don't be alarmed as I switch more of the discourse to the new (Doctoral) blog. I'll still be here, online, sharing my journey with you. The new blog is http://www.thekogblog.blogspot.com/

"Merry Christmas and blessed New Year"

Alice and I wish you a truly Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. To all who have followed my back-to-school journey on this blog, it is my prayer that you will have a fulfilling new year, and that the road ahead in 2012, will be a great adventure. I have completed all my Master's graduate studies, except for the final thesis due by April. In the meantime, I have taken a new leap of faith and enrolled in a Doctoral program at St.Stephen's College , University of Alberta, Edmonton. I look forward "to getting my scholarly kicks on Route 66," and beyond.

"Creativity as antidote or complement to academics"

Over the many years I have counseled and mentored individuals, I have often said, “find something creative to do.” If the complexities and challenges of life overwhelm you, creativity is an abundant source of relief. With just over two years of graduate research and study completed, and the prospect of a Doctoral continuum, I face these same complexities and challenges in academia. Even though I find solace in my artwork and studio, academic pursuits have meant a sabbatical of sorts from studio time. However, it is to creative writing I turn to refresh and regroup for the next university assignment. My faithful companion has been Cerulean, the principal character of my epic poem which I began in 2004. Cerulean, the long distance voyager, is now on his 8th journey. In addition, I keep a running chronicle of wherever I find myself in my latest novel, should a plot development emerge. All of it, a bit at the time, but enough to be the antidote when academic pressures overwhelm me, or a complement when I want to add colour to my academic writing. Some people dance, sing, play music, read books, or cook, others tend a beautiful garden, some engage a satisfying hobby, others collect memorabilia. Whatever creative endeavour you engage, “finding something creative to do,” is good medicine for the human spirit.

"Dr.Gerrit I presume?"

Yes, it's official. I have been accepted into the Doctoral Program at St.Stephen's College at the University of Alberta, where I plan to undertake research as a continuum of my master's degree, with a broad scope of "The Intersection of Art, Critical Thought, and the Kingdom of God." If going back to school at 65 was a rollercoaster ride of scholarly pursuits, with plenty of ups and downs (metaphor intended), then 2012 at age 67, will be a trip into space and back. If you can stay with me as I expand my adventure of faith, I will do my best to continue to be an encouragement to whoever wishes to be inspired by my journey. Over the past 2 1/2 years, many have shown their support for going back to school and I truly appreciate everyone whose kind words of encouragement kept me going. Of course you don't have to call me Dr. Gerrit. Just Gerrit will be fine. Imagine, graduation at age 70. And many thanks to my wife Alice.

From the Archives

This is my press photo in the Wallaceburg News. It's 1963, the year I won the "Bending Art Award Trophy" for being the best artist in the Wallaceburg District Secondary School, Walaceburg, Ontario. I was 18. (L2R, Principal Allan, Me, a representative of the Bending family). It gave me confidence to enroll in art college. Not that being the best is everything, but being motivated to excell sure helps. Along the way to 2011, there have been many awards, primarily in the form of encouragement from special people I've met on my journey as an artist, and who did not laugh when I said I was going back to school at age 65. Yes, there have been and continue to be challenges, but that's life. So, be encouraged wherever you find yourself today. Be motivated and excell in what you do. Confidence will be its reward.

"Always the student."

Its no secret. Life is a journey of constant learning. The photograph is me in highschool (1960-64, looking (pretending to look) totally immersed in my studies. Yet, besides the photo-op, I have always loved studying and reading. Reading for many, especially youth, has become a lost art. Somehow I cannot imagine myself on a "dark and rainy night, while the wind tugs at the trees, and a mug of steaming coffee is my only company," to lie on the couch with a laptop or tablet to enjoy a captivating novel. A book, like a drawing, draws you in. Technology and social media keep their distance while you remain at best a spectator. Even during my masters degree studies online, and lots of internet activity, my current Knowledge Management course will add more 3-ring binders to shelf already full of my other courses. My highschool photograph, therefore, remains quite contemporary.

"Off and Running"

The view is from the top of Mt.Arrowsmith on Vancouver Island. You get there through a maze of logging roads. I have a detailed map book of Vancouver Island that shows every logging road. It’s a real asset if you plan to make adventurous journeys into the interior. I’m “off and running” with my core Fall university course on Knowledge Management. It’s heavy on the theory side, so it helps to map my way through from a top-of-the-mountain perspective. I call it “building a theoretical construct,” and it’s an appropriate metaphor for life as well, beyond the theoretical and into the practical. So, back to the readings and find my often elusive logging roads. Once a friend and I got lost (a dead-end logging road) and another time we got stuck sideways in a huge snow pile. Thankfully, a logging crew came along and pulled us out. Ah, the perils of eClass distance studies – and the adventure – at 65, now 66.