meditation on the last day

Today is the last day. For many, the last day was some other day, but I’ve talked with enough students who will finish exams today, that today is really the last day of the semester.

And you are no longer the same.

You’ve changed.

The temptation will be to go home and be the same. You’ll try to be the same, but you will have changed and you’ll feel the difference in yourself and how you relate to others, especially those in your family. The change in yourself will because you have accomplished something, often, something difficult.

For some, the difficult piece has been grades. Applying glue to one’s backside for study always makes the world seem different. For others, it’s been surviving the wiles of an intractable roommate. For still others, life in the social lane has exposed you to people with whom you can relate and who even inspire you. For still others, the shootings of last spring’s Virginia Tech reverberated again at Von Maur and caused a painful stirring that has not yet rested.

Oh, yes, you’ve been through difficult times. As a campus, we’ve experienced everything from the selection and installation of a new Chancellor and the real and proposed exit of some of our longest friends; new buildings going up, other ones rearranged and still others becoming strong ideas. Programs are reformatted and put online, faculty are interested in taking leading roles in the community and going off campus. Transition has become a permanent state of affairs. Living in transition is difficult—it requires principles, thought, preparation and action. This adult like process requires the best and the most of us. It’s difficult. Having gone through difficult times, you have changed.

In all cases, there will be people who wish times, people and behavior remain what they’ve been, or at least, what is perceived to have been, “the way you used to be.” The tension will be palpable as you decide if you are the “same old” or if you have the “one in transition”, making decisions with a behavior in line with your new life principles.

Families and close co-workers are the most adept at desiring your old self. That’s the one with whom they are most comfortable.

This was true for Saul, also called Paul. His conversion story on the road to Damascus is will known. What is often forgotten is the story of Ananias, who was called to offer healing so Saul could regain his sight, after being struck blind (Act 9). This is the struggle of Ananias:

v. 10
“Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” He answered. “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

It’s your choice: to acknowledge and be the new person who has gone through difficult times and has new or emerging and powerful principles, or to try to ignore it all and not name it and claim it.

Make a list of those who want you to stay the same (including yourself, maybe?) and those who want the new and stronger you. Let me know how it goes.

See you second semester!

--f