I Remember

Article by PAUL LIPE
Opinion expressed is that of the writer

I REMEMBER,  an instance that took place during the early part of my sophomore year in my biology class. It sticks out in my mind because I believe I developed a little more maturity than I previously had been experiencing. This was my first year at North High which had just been established as a consolidated high school populated by students from five different communities. The faculty was also made up from teachers of those five different schools, which meant, that we didn’t know each other well.

Our biology professor had recently given us a test and was passing out the graded papers. He would call a students name and then give the proper paper to that student. When he called my name, he didn’t even look my way, I had made a good grade and he didn’t picture me as a student with much “smarts.” I must have impressed him as an average pupil from a little school nine miles north. When I raised my hand as he called my name, it was obvious to me that I was not the same guy that he thought had done so well on that test. It occurred to me that I should be more involved in class discussions. From that time on I was a new person. 

As I began “my new life,” that opened many doors for me to be involved with other students and faculty members. Now, some fellow students would even ask for my help with some of their assignments. This had never happened in my “old life.” I became more involved with school activities outside the classroom, and even led chapel cheers for our athletic teams. This incident gave me a confidence that had been missing for most of my life. I like the new role better and no longer was afraid to accept new challenges.

Some years later when I was a student at Davidson, prospective students for Columbia seminary were invited to the school for a day. Though I was not an athlete, I had learned to play volleyball fairly well. Following lunch, the students at the seminary would gather outside the dining room where a volleyball net had been set up. I was asked to join the game and did demonstrate some skills, causing one of the seminary players to say, “ that one can play!” Such a remark would never have been uttered 10 years earlier. Perhaps God was right when he picked me to be a minister of his gospel. In my earlier years, thoughts of standing in the pulpit would fill me with fear? The change was not due to anything in me, but to the fact that when God calls, He also equips.

The major lesson I learned from all of this is that God is always right. When He puts his hand on our shoulder and gives us a task, we need not fear even though our self-confidence maybe weak. It is God‘s grace  that makes us sufficient. As we begin a new year, let us face life and its challenges with confidence in God. My biology professor would never have thought of me as a public figure, especially a preacher, and God made all the difference and he could make that same difference in your life as you trust him to provide all you need to do his work. God bless you and use you in the New Year.