Friday, August 28, 2009

How Do You Remember It?


I love the passage of scripture found in Genesis 41:51. Listen to it. "Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.' I want to focus on three words, made me forget.

This post is for my J.S.B.C. friends.

My college experience is something that has a lot of good memories. The friends that I made, the things we experienced ,etc. I would not trade it for the world. All of it was perfect except for a season of that time. I experienced various emotions, and saw things that I wished I would never have seen. I saw what someone referred to as a "meltdown". The things that I had experienced were all very helpful, but also very hurtful. So what do you do when everything around is shaken?

That is a question I have had to ask from time to time. I not sure I have always answered it right, but let me share with you what has helped me.

For a long time after I graduated I felt as though I had been lied to, and used to further someone's agenda. I was mad, and I was hurt. Was this the way things would be? Then little by little I began to sift through the raw emotions and find the fingerprints of God through my experience. It was not easy, but I began to see that it was worth it. All of the pain and the tears, and all of the confusion before, during and after this situation. I also began to realize that it was time to move on and start living my life without this excess baggage. I realized I was not responsible for one man's fall, nor was I responsible for everyone reactions. I was only responsible for what I did with this situation. So let me ask you a question, how do you remember your years at J.S.B.C.?

Let me tell you how I handle it. When the subject comes up I talk about all of the Pastors and Missionaries around the world that are doing something for God. I also talk about my friends in every area of business or commerce who are living for Jesus whatever they do. I like to tell people that I was a part of something that was very special, and could never be reproduced. It was a time when God brought us all together for one purpose so that He would do some incredible things in our lives. Let me finish.

I won't be at the reunion in Baton Rouge coming very soon. Not that I don't want to, but I am starting my classes that weekend. My heart is with my friends, and faculty that poured into my life. I can say like Joseph "the Lord has made me forget." How about you?

1 comment:

  1. I agree with your assessment, John, in every way. I remember that feeling - of being lied to and being used to further someone else's agenda.

    But as you point out so well - we move on, and do what we're uniquely gifted to do regardless of all that. In the final analysis, it's all good!

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