Gift

In a previous blog I believe I told you about some early college experiences I had in the Colorado Rockies.  I was privileged to take part, with many wonderful people, in a life changing time.  Many men and women of God filled my life with all types of backgrounds and ideas.  I was young and developing a sense of who God was and how I fit in this thing called life.  I was blessed with four professors who loved their God deeply but one man had an insight that seemed to click with me.   He was very kind and had a non-judgmental concern with a deep desire that we would pull as much out of our Creator as possible.  He was a no-nonsense biologist and taught with a sense of practicality I haven't really seen since.  Maybe this appreciation was enhanced by the mercy he showed by not flunking a terrified freshman out of his biology class. 

Years later at a reunion I was awarded a complement from this man of which I will never forget.  I went to a Bible and engineering school and received a degree in recreation and camp administration....go figure.  At the reunion most of us guys were helping this professor unload a bunch of wood into the lodge.  He had backed his new truck up a small hill to shorten the carrying distance.  When the wood was unloaded and the truck swept out the tailgate wouldn't close.  The engineers were calculating the derivatives, angles, pressure points complete with leverage analysis.  The spiritual leaders were calculating the amount of sin we had committed in our determination to close the tailgate.  I was lost amongst the math and the stress.  I said, "the truck looks catawampus maybe if we drive the truck onto level ground, the gate will close."  What do you know!  The tailgate closed with ease.  I had nothing to offer but a drive down the hill.  My professor said six words that encouraged me greatly, "I like the way you think" , then he went about his business....serving us. 

He taught the intricacies of life to show us the awesomeness of our Creator.  He knew it wasn't about him and his brilliance, it was about God and his majesty.  "If you can't piece together ameba's, protozoa's and cell division, don't worry about it.  Just be amazed that God has it all in control and you will be fine."  Wow, I still had a chance!

A few horses had taken Dr. Compton to task and I still see him hobbling down to the water pump.  I miss his wily wisdom.  I wish I could sit down again and talk about the greatly complicated and wonderfully simple aspects of our incredible God.  Dr. Compton was brilliant, compassionate, humble and loved his God dearly.  I was able to study under this man.  What an incredible gift I was given!