Two Professors; Two Education Models; (Possibly) Two Destinies

I have no idea how many different professors and instructors I had during my four years at Southern Illinois University, but I can only recall the names of two of them. Both of them taught in my major field of study (government) and both had me in more than one class (three for one and two for the other). 

I can still remember making an appointment with one of them to ask if I could use him as a reference in order to get into graduate school. I figured that he would be a good reference since he was reputed to be one of the (if not the) most difficult professor(s) in the department and since I had received an “A” in both of his classes. 

He did not even remember who I was!   

After he looked up my grades, he wrote a perfunctory letter of recommendation. I am sure he did that for many other faceless, nameless people who had occupied a seat in one of his classes.

Years after their college years, our two children have no trouble recalling the names those who taught them at Freed-Hardeman University. It is interesting that, in their conversations, they do not talk about Dr. ________ and Dr. ________.  They were talking about Gary, Billy, Ralph, Sam, Janine, Bobby, John, Karen, Sharon, Earl, David, Roy, and a host of others. They were, to be sure, talking about people who have earned a terminal degree and who had been some of their professors and instructors at FHU. 

At the same time, they were talking about more than instructors. They were talking about people who were, and continue to be in many ways, a part of their lives. While they may have instructed them in different fields of academic studies, they also guided them in their lives and in their goal of honoring our Lord and spending eternity with Him.

During a conversation a few years ago, our children were surprised to learn that I could only think of the two professors I have already mentioned. They reacted as if I was talking about a world entirely foreign to them. 

I was!

I was talking about a world where the Bible was ridiculed, morals meant nothing, partying was the norm for the majority, and faith was all too often destroyed. I am grateful that our children had a much different experience than the one I had. 

As young people and their parents make choices concerning higher education, I pray that they realize that there are things more important than dollars and/or how close an institution is to home. I pray that they think of memories they will have for a lifetime and relationships they will have in eternity.

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