Adversities Transformed
January 12, 2012 by Steve Pogue
Filed under Caring About Colleagues, Discipleship, Encouragement, Recent MMMs
Duane Keilstrup,
Professor Emeritus,
German,
University of Texas-Arlington
[February 5, 2012] –
I was never a cutting-edge scholar, dynamic orator, or award-winning teacher during my career in academia. I was, however, in love with the Lord Jesus Christ, and by His grace God led me one spring to be part of a Faculty Commons short-term mission to universities in South Africa.
Although unsure of how I might contribute, I was excited to be a part of this amazing pioneering outreach. Yet my willingness to be used by God did not exempt me from adversities — before, during, and after this trip. At the time I was suffering from severe acid reflux and ulcer problems that continued throughout my stay in Johannesburg. We were, of course, asked to speak before several campus groups, and I feared I would not have the stamina and clarity to present my lectures.
Unusual Freedom
Amazingly, however, each time I approached the podiums, I felt completely free of pain. In Christian faculty workshops I explained how the Holy Spirit led me to integrate the Gospel into my teaching of German language and culture, and these workshops led to opportunities to share in more detail on an individual basis as well.
On the third day a Campus Crusade student leader introduced me to a science professor whose wife had been witnessing to him. This professor had expressed interest but had not come to a decision. He told us he felt he just needed a push. Sensing the Holy Spirit’s leading, I shared my testimony with him. Though hearing the details of my journey with the Lord made sense to him, he still was not ready to accept Christ’s forgiveness for himself.
Positive Results
However, later at the end of our mission, as our group was about to board the plane for our flight home, the news came that he had indeed finally come to Christ. In addition, I later learned that the speech I gave to the faculty at Johannesburg College opened additional doors for my host professor to share Christ with small student groups.
Upon returning home, new adversities arose. First I received a few mean-spirited teaching evaluations, something I had never faced before. On that same day a confrontation with an out-of-control lab technician erupted. I suddenly plunged from the spiritual African mountaintop experience into a valley of frustration and disappointment. Hadn’t I done what God wanted?
Simple Gifts
The very next morning God graciously intervened through an earthly angel in the form of a custodian who left a beautiful drawing with words of encouraging Scripture on my desk. God clearly led this young man to provide encouragement, because he had no way of knowing about my problems.
More drawings arrived daily, and I developed a friendship with this man. I learned about his own problems and his need for mutual encouragement. The expression of his faith through art encouraged me to continue to share Christ with others on my own campus, even as I had done in South Africa.
Through all of this God reminded me that sharing acts of kindness and God’s Word can contribute more to the present and eternal lives of others than we may ever know on earth. And clearly the Lord intervened to transform adversities on my own campus as well as on campuses abroad into His victories.
©2012 Duane Keilstrup
climbing photo ©istockphoto
Next time, Try This
November 1, 2011 by Anne Wenger
Filed under Discipleship, Encouragement, Recent MMMs, Student interaction
Heather Holleman,
English,
Penn State University
[November 6, 2011] –
I’m sitting next to a stack of essays, coffee in one hand, pen in the other. As I read, I celebrate great writing with enthusiastic comments in the margin. Bravo! Genius! Fantastic!
I circle mistakes; usually I find semicolons used improperly, weak verbs, or sentence patterns with no variation. Whenever I have to point out a writing weakness, I immediately find myself writing, “Next time, try this,” as I scribble out a plan for their improvement.
A Second Chance
It’s always difficult for me to assign that D or that F mark. I realize how discouraging a bad grade feels. The only thing that soothes sometimes is that plan for “next time.” These strategies for development keep our focus on growth, not setbacks.
I remember a parenting book that taught me to correct a child’s behavior and say “next time” right away. “Next time, don’t jump on the furniture,” or “next time, don’t spread the peas all over the kitchen wall.”
It really works. It’s like a little saying that reminds us we are all on a journey of growing, of getting it right eventually. “Next time” invites me to rise up to a challenge, and it keeps me from the despair of failure.
I think of that with my overeating, my fits of dark emotions, my bad choices with my time, my harsh words. Next time, I’ll change something. Next time, I’ll grow a little bit more into the woman I want to be. And the beauty of the “next time” expression is that it starts immediately. I don’t have to wait till tomorrow or next year.
Forward Thinking
When I get it wrong, I think of an immediate plan for development. We’re moving forward, don’t look back. Start fresh! It’s next time right now.
This way of thinking saves me from self-criticism after teaching a class that doesn’t go according to plan. It saves me from spiraling into depression if an article gets rejected or a research direction falls apart. Failure is part of progress. I can ask myself where this mistake will take me and what new thing I’m learning from it.
I want to be as gentle with myself as I am with my children or my students. If I fail today, I remember that next time, I can try this.
After all, Jesus dealt with the disciples with great tenderness and encouragement even when correcting their failures. After His resurrection Jesus made sure He spoke to Peter, who had denied Him, and challenged him to new responsibilities of feeding His sheep. (Cf. John 21:15ff.)
There’s always another chance to grow.
(c) 2011 Heather Holleman (c) istockphoto