Skipping Work to Go to School

I skipped out on work this morning (I was actually given permission but that doesn't sound nearly as exciting) to attend chapel with Adam at school. Once a year Dr. Pentecost speaks in chapel. He's probably 98 or 99 and still teaches at the seminary. He has written many books and refuses to let the seminary pay him because he makes enough off his book rights and just loves teaching the students for the love of teaching the students. He also lives in our student housing apartment building and is funny and sharp as a tack.

Today after singing a hymn with Chaplain Bill, the speaker is normally introduced, Dr. P (as he is lovingly called by everyone) cut in front of the seminary president and said, "When you've been here as long as I have you don't need an introduction." You see, Dr. P has taught at Dallas Seminary for 54 years. He's a man that still searches after the heart of God all these years and has truly committed himself to finishing the race strong.

All these reasons aside is not why I took the morning off to go see him. This time last year we had just come home from spending the summer at East Side completing Adam's internship and I did not have a job yet. I was pretty depressed. My dear friend Christy called to see if I would watch her son Micah while she attended Dr. P's chapel with her husband as this was their last year at seminary and therefore the last time to hear Dr. P speak in this capacity. I remember a lot of emotions came from this simple request. More than I probably ever talked to Christy about herself. What I remember most is being almost insanely jealous that they were in their last year and how long that felt from being myself and Adam, especially when she came back full of a bittersweet happiness that this final year had begun.

So with the anticipation of this rite of passage, I wanted to hear Dr. P speak this morning and he did not disappoint. His message was to the new students as it is opening week, but it spoke just as much to my heart as theirs, because although we are ending seminary we are starting a new phase, as unknown as can be, but none the less new. He charged them to seek after God. Not to seek after other things. Dr. P used Mary in Luke 10 as an example. Martha pursued things that were worthy of time, wanting to be hospitable and to serve those who were in her home, but she lost the truth that Mary saw. The reality was to pursue the one who came visit. God in the flesh, Jesus. Oh how I wish I was more like Mary and pursued God to the detriment of everything else.

So, spoke to my memory was this scripture.

Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:4-5

How sweet it is to be rounding to the morning.