Joy in parting

I take up my fingers today to commemorate efforts and work long past; to pause in a brief reverie over moments of mirth and seasons of strenuous struggle. Time permits me to speak neither eloquently enough nor thoroughly enough of the deeply hidden beauties of the passive periphrastic, the many escapades of Cromwell’s head, or even our country’s great war for continued self-government. Would that I could share with you the wonders of infectious diseases and how when viewed contextually with the soundtrack from Episode IV: A New Hope, their inner-workings become inestimably clearer. The dimensions of a 14th century alleyway—who would think of their great implications upon modern society, or that 18th century romanticism is alive and well and ensconced at the local grocery store?

I will never forget the opportunities that my time at Patrick Henry College has afforded, and indeed continue to provide for me. The information, the experiences, the work, but more than these, the friendships that I was able to gain through my short time in Purcellville I count as one of God’s greatest gifts to me. Whether praying in chapel, chasing a Frisbee, singing in the stairwells, or deeply discussing my beliefs with brothers and sisters in Christ, I was honored and privileged to share those precious three semesters with some of the smartest, kindest, most humorous, and Christ-centric folks I know. As I look back on my experiences, I want to be sure that the world knows that the time invested in me by cherished friends or wise professors—whose worth was so sadly undervalued—is still bearing fruit.

Without a strenuous course in Philosophy I would not be as well equipped to categorize and analyze the various worldviews and perspectives I meet on a daily basis. Without a rigorous course in the language of the one-time foremost powerful nation in the world, I would not have the grasp of my own spoken or written tongue I now claim to possess. Without a thought-provoking discourse on the writing and ideas of those best and brightest authors of the western world, my communication skills would be sorely in want. Without an intriguing and deeply interesting foray into the captivating history of western civilization, my grasp of what reasonably can be expected of modern society would be woefully inadequate. Without a detailed analysis and discussion of the roots of our country and its government led by one who, in my humble opinion both loved the information he imparted and imparting it in the way most likely to be retained, I would be far less capable of understanding and using my rights as a citizen. Without stimulating presentations on the peculiar history of the United States, including but not limited to campaign slogans of a most repetitive nature, my appreciation of all that God has done for our nation would be sadly diminished. Without a scientific study of the intricacies of the created order I would lack the awe such a course cannot but impart.

And so, as I bid a fond farewell to the credits I hoped to attain through the above courses of study, I cannot be bitter, but rather joyful and thankful for such an awesome opportunity. That I was able to be present on that campus for three wonderful semesters will be a blessing that only increases as time continues. I offer my heartfelt thanks to the students, the faculty, and the administration of Patrick Henry College, both past and present for the manner in which God has used, and is continuing to use them in blessing, maturing, and instructing me.