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June 2005
Why NOT?
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June 2005
Why NOT?
Just this morning I received a mailing from the school where I did my undergraduate studies. At the time of my graduation the school was only a college! Some years ago little Trevecca Nazarene College became Trevecca Nazarene University. Among the many things I did not see in the future was that Trevecca would become a University. I just didn't ever think about such a possibility. However, someone did; and, now as a University, Trevecca has a much wider range of academic offerings and a vastly greater Christian impact on persons and institutions. Consider the extension of Christian influence from the School of Nursing that was created by becoming a University. Students interested in Nursing can study in their chosen field and they can graduate with a better understanding of how the Christian faith relates to life. Imagine highly trained nurses filled with love for God and good medical knowledge delivering medical care to the sick. It is a winning outcome for everyone.
Contained in that mailing was another surprise for me: The Reverend Doctor Daniel Boone was chosen by the University trustees to succeed the retiring University President. Dan Boone (yes, that's right…Dan Boone!) was a year behind me at Trevecca. While I knew him to be a bright, capable and friendly person, I could not have foreseen that he would some day become the President of Trevecca, whether college or university! In the few conversations we had, I can say with confidence that the subject never came up! However, in June of 2005, Dan Boone will become President of Trevecca Nazarene University. While I know he will never read this, "Congratulations, Dan." As a graduate of Trevecca and a faithful pastor of many years, Dan will enter into an arena where his witness for Christ can even more greatly impact the lives of students, faculty, staff and leaders in academia.
Life is filled with surprises; almost all of them are wonderful! However, surprises are most often made possible when our imagination is sensitive to the calling of the Holy Spirit. Because God is active in our world perhaps the greatest question in life is not "What will I do?" but "Why not?" Fear and timidity can drive the "What will I do?" question. At some point, or at many points in our lives, most of us have backed down from a dream because we became afraid to act upon such an expansive possibility. "Why not?" moves us forward and keeps us reaching toward what God calls us to become. In God's world of "Why not?", surprises are not only expansive but they create ways to impact the world. The question, "Why not?", permits a vision that is more readily open to the calling and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
So, whether for us personally or as the people of Central, "Why not?" Why not allow ourselves to dream big? Why not expect our creating God to call us to such new possibilities that we tremble to follow? Why not dream that love will conquer hate? Why not allow a vision of Central having an impact upon the lives of people that is greater than anything heretofore experienced? Why not?
Grace and Peace,
David