Convocation

This year, Bishop David Roller is the featured speaker at our opening gathering time. I have come to appreciate the pomp and fuss of this event, proud to be able to wear the appropriate robes and be identified with my school and profession. The music is inspiring, the announcement of faculty honors awarded significant.

I have heard Bishop Roller's name mentioned a number of times as featured speaker for various functions but have never been able to attend any of them as my duties required my presence elsewhere. I look forward to finally meeting him and hearing what he has to say. He is an engaging story teller who relates to us, with modern commentary and insertion of current details, a story from the Bible. He is entertaining and thought provoking.

I wait for the application, the "in light of this, what ought I to do differently" part. But he does not give us that. He ends the story and sits down! No conclusions drawn. This is new. Now I will have to think about the story and listen to the Spirit for myself. How unusual. And how interesting. I am sure what I need to glean from the story is not the same as what others need to hear.

I mention this twist to several colleagues. They noticed it too. Some of them try to tell me what the conclusions are that Bishop Roller inferred. I smile. I did not hear that. I do not want to hear that. I have my own ideas and I want to allow them to develop, to see where it leads me. How refreshing to discover someone who doesn't have all the answers, who isn't trying to fill my ears with rhetoric and thou shalt nots. You get so tired of that.

I make a mental note. Next time I am asked to speak, see if I can model after this approach. I will be thinking about his story for awhile, wrestling with the many facets encountered. That's a good thing.