Devotions - Wednesday, Aug 20

This is the day that I have been looking forward to for months. It is really tough to be a campus pastor during the summer, when everyone is away. This past summer was particularly tough. We had hardly any of our kids in town. A few of the grad students remained faithful in attending worship, but even they tended to be out and about (and who could blame them?) I have been looking forward to the beginning of the school year and all the excitement that it brings.

I didn't know, last June when I started looking forward to this day, that it would also be the day that my oldest child would board a plane for New Mexico. She will be volunteering for the next year, with a Lutheran ministry called Border Servant Corp. Her specific area of responsibility will be volunteer coordination with the Las Cruces Habitat for Humanity Affiliate.

There are mixed emotions, for me, on this day. I am reminded that practically every strong emotion has two faces.

Some of you already know that my most often referred to story in the Bible is the story of Jacob and the night visitor. The man comes and wrestles with Jacob all night, but does not prevail. Finally, he strikes Jacob on the hip and puts it out of joint. Jacob still won't release him until he gives Jacob a blessing. Jacob receives the name "Israel," but is left with a permanent limp. Blessing and wounds - two faces of the same encounter.

I went to the Ron Rash lecture for First Year Reading Project. He talked about the characters in his book, One Foot in Eden. They were dedicated, hard working people. They also showed the signs of flawed humanity. No matter how hard we work at it, things seldom follow a simple and straight path.

Thank you for allow me to share my emotions with you. I do so for a purpose: To encourage you to acknowledge the multifaceted aspects of this day in your own life. Some of you are beginning your college career. Others are beginning their final year of study. Some of you are transitioning into the courses which define your career choice. Be excited; be nervous; be honest with all that is going on inside you.

The community which bears the name of Christ is a safe place to expose our mixed emotions. It is the perfect place to expose our fears and seek a salve for that which hurts us. Together we will make our way through the months and years ahead. Together, we will discover and then pursue the path God would have in store for us.