It's a couple of hours before I have to get up and go to the first day of school. I would like to say that it is the excitement of the unknown and getting to see my friends that has me up at 2 in the morning, but then again, it might be the Sprayberry's barbeque I had for dinner. Anyway, as I was laying there trying to figure out whether or not I should get up, a thought crossed my mind. When I started this thought of finally going into the ministry some nine years ago, did I have any idea that I would be where I am today? For me, the answer is easy, "NO WAY!" As I thought about that answer, it hit me that this nine year journey has been filled with a lot of hard work, but best of all, a ton of people who have loved and supported me in my call to the ministry. How could I ever tell them thank you? I got a great idea, write a blog! Maybe not such a great idea, because I may leave someone out, but I have some time to kill so here I go...
Where to start? How about Monty and Fert? Seriously, that's really their names. Anyway, I was serving on a Walk to Emmaus weekend and a fellow preacher, David and I were talking about content we were about being "local licensed preachers." (it's a Methodist thing!) Then these two guys over that Emmaus weekend in their own little God-blessed ways put this silly little idea into our heads about us going back to college and then seminary. I laughed at them and came up with some really great excuses like my age, full time employment, and oh yeah, money to pay for school, seminary, and all of those other little things that cost money. By the end of the weekend, the thought of gme oing back to school wouldn't leave my mind, so I decided to check into it.
Eventually, I found out that I could go to school "full time" going a couple a nights a week and still serve my little church. So I started back to college after 28 years going to Shorter College (Lawrenceville campus). It was hard and easy at the same time, and after two and a half years, I had an associate degree. While I was at Shorter, I served on another Walk to Emmaus weekend and came across a couple of preachers. I was talking to them that I needed to finish out my undergraduate degree before heading to seminary and was trying to figure out where I should go. Without the other knowing, both pastors suggested LaGrange College to me about an hour apart (sounds like a God thing to me). Both Dave and Scott told me about how great the school was and how beautiful the campus was. And oh yeah, it's a Methodist school with a lot of old Methodist scholarship money, so I decided to check it out. Later that year at annual conference on missions night, the emphasis was on Methodist schools in the North Georgia conference. Guess who was one of the key speakers, the dean of LaGrange College, Dr. Stuart Gulley. After the service was over, my wife and I went onto the stage to introduce ourselves to Dr. Gulley and express our interest in me attending LGC. When we finally got to him, we introduced ourselves and told him of my plans. Dr. Gulley literally stopped what he was doing and for about 10 minutes answered every question we had about LGC. He encouraged us to come down to LaGrange, visit the campus and to call him if we had any other questions. He also called over Quincy Brown, the school's chaplain (much more than a chaplain and a great blessing to the school and to me) and introduced us to him.
Well, in fall of 2005, I started LaGrange College. What was I doing at this small campus of about a 1,000 students as a 48 year old transfer student? I'm pretty sure that's what some of those students were thinking. In fact, on my first day there, I was the first one in my Humanities class sitting in a desk when one of the students walked in and wanted to know if I was the professor. No, I was a student just like them. And for the next 2 years, I was a student mainly because of the way I was treated by a majority of the students at the school. The students I will remember most are the students from the religion department. They blessed me more than they will ever know. I have no doubts that God placed those special "kids" at LaGrange just for me during those 2 years. I couldn't have done it with out (in alphabetical order and with many thanks) Amber, Andy, Bill, David, Julia, Matt, Ryan, Sandra, Suzanne, and so many more that my old age won't let me remember. Also, I shouldn't leave out my three favorite professors; Dr. Ahearn for challenging me and preparing me for seminary. Dr. Cook, for making Greek fun and for all of those wonderful off the subject conversations in classes that made those horrible academic subjects you taught bearable enough to live through. And Alvin, though I only had you for one class, you were the one who "talked" me into going to Candler. Even though you were a "Dukie" through and through, over the course of several conversations you enlightened me enough through my doubts to point me at Candler.
I would be remiss if I did not to tell you about one more wonderful piece of God's grace that had gotten me through this educational quest so far, my beautiful wife, Brenda. Nine years ago, she sat on our bed and told me that she knew that I was called to the ministry (She also said she had known that I had been called for some time and that she was waiting on me to find out and admit it). She has never once objected to me going back to school especially when money was and still is tight. From nights alone while I wrote and typed papers to me toting my books and computer on OUR vacations, she has loved and supported me unconditionally. When I doubted or whined, she was there to remind me of the journey and how far and how much God has blessed me to get me to where I am today. And for that, I am eternally grateful for all that she has done and sacrificed for me these past 9 years.
And as I begin my second year at Candler, I am beginning another list of people who have blessed me so far and will bless me over the next over the 20 months and 8 days (til graduation!) with God's love and grace to get me through to the degree I seek. What lays before me, only God and my professors know, but whatever that may be, let's do it, because May 10, 2010, can't come quick enough!!!
