Regarding my regrets expressed here, I forgot to mention a major reason that held me back: I could make a living as a wage slave. Between my wife and I, it was fairly easy to live on hourly jobs that didn’t require experience.  (Actually, before children, Jennifer had a professional job in publishing.)
After seminary, with two children and another on the way, life was completely different. A history of working hard simply didn’t mean enough for my new economic situation.

So my advice to the young: work hard but work smart. You need your hourly rate to be a lot higher in a few years.