It’s difficult to believe that Connor, our oldest grandson, is starting college this week…. But before we celebrate that, I couldn’t help but remember my own transition from high school to college two generations ago.
I really wanted to go to Northwestern University and, although I was accepted into a condensed six year program that combined a four year college degree and a medical school degree, the family couldn’t afford for me to attend Northwestern. Also, Dad didn’t feel good filling out the scholarship information or loan info, so my parents told me that Northwestern was off the table – I wouldn’t be going there.
I was also accepted at IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology) that was ranked right below MIT in those days as an engineering school. But, thinking I was going to Northwestern, I didn’t accept the IIT offer and so I found myself out of luck, with nowhere to attend in the fall of 1970. Upon returning home from working in Germany the summer before college, I quickly drove down to the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle and was accepted to start school several weeks later. It was a bittersweet occasion. I was going to college – but not somewhere that I wanted to attend.
I hated my college years (I am not exaggerating!) – and lived at home because we couldn’t afford for me to stay on campus. And let’s face it, I was angry about not going to Northwestern. In fact, it is probably the single biggest regret of my entire education. I graduated in a little more than three years, ahead of schedule, with far more credits than I needed and I couldn’t wait to get out of school. In all honesty, I have been a little bitter ever since.
But Janet has reminded me countless times that God uses all our experiences for His ultimate good and if I had attended Northwestern, who knows if Janet and I would have ended up together. That would have been unacceptable… Frankly, I don’t even know that I would have been a good medical doctor and how would that have affected Janet and me raising a family.
The week I finished college, Dad was diagnosed with cancer, so I went to work in the family business right away – medical school would have been difficult to attend during those next several years. I never got there, but my brother, Doug, became a doctor, a terrific surgeon and I am very proud of him. I have oftentimes thought about what it would have been like to be in practice with him. Not to be…
So… I didn’t get to graduate school until our children were raised and our business was successful enough for me to leave and ask other people to run the company for me. Unlike my time at university, I enjoyed every minute of my seminary experience. Janet and I would go through that again in a heartbeat; and we both felt that we were smack dab in the will of God.
Since then, I have taught Bible studies for more than 20 years, taught Bible school students, preached at numerous churches, have written this blog for almost 10 years and have coached countless numbers of people who have changed careers or experienced the need for personal counseling. It has been an awesome journey and we have been blessed beyond measure.
To be sure, Janet and I were active in making sure that our three children had the chance for better college experiences that we did – and now Connor is off to school as the first of his generation in our family to go to university. We couldn’t be more proud of his accomplishments to this point and we pray that he will enjoy his college years and land where God wants him to be after he graduates.
It’s difficult to realize that it was 50 years ago that I started at UICC. And how would things be different today if I had not followed that path? God certainly ordained His will for our lives and Janet, the family and I have been blessed beyond words. Then, to have the opportunity to attend seminary when I was mature enough to understand the reality of the education and how to use it to the glory of God…
I have thought about Connor and his education more times that I can mention. We wish him every success, and more than anything, we want him to be in the will of God. Somehow, I think that God will work that out. And that brings us to a familiar verse for tonight. The prophet, Jeremiah, recounts the words of God in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
My encouragement this evening is that God loves us and has plans for us – grander plans that are far more wonderful than we can imagine. Janet and I are living proof that it isn’t all roses, but the end result is a beautiful life. My prayer is that Connor, and all the other folks starting school this fall, along with each believer, will trust God and try to enjoy the journey that has already been ordained for each of them. Good luck, Connor! We love you… And to the rest of you, have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…