THE MAIN THING

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord!
Can you hear it? The hush all over campus.
Can you believe it? All the available parking spots.
Are you in as much dismay as I? The school year as come to an end.

As I was reflecting on the weekend’s festivities and celebrations, this verse came to mind and I broke out in song. I have so many reasons to bless the Lord!

• For the individuals on our campus such as Bryan Arvelo who have received miraculous healing this year - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For God’s financial provision to this institution of Christian higher education - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For the friendships that were struck between students, university employees and church members through Home Vespers - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For the walls of racial separation and discrimination of all kinds our campus family has worked hard this year to tear down - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For the lives so deeply impacted by the testimonies that were shared as a part of Student Week of Prayer “Bare Feet, Holy Ground” - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For the ten days of prayer which led to individual and corporate spiritual revival within our campus family and local community - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For the students who willingly served as Student Missionaries or participated in hurricane relief efforts, on Vision Trips or ERC trips - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For God’s comfort to those within our campus family who have lost loved ones - my soul blesses the Lord!
• For the nine students we have record of who chose to be baptized this year - my soul blesses the Lord!

What reasons do you have this first Monday of summer to bless the Lord? Take some time today to reflect on the year before it blurs into the background. What would it look like to circle up as a department or team this week and retell the stories and situations you’ve seen God work in this year and then, to bless the Lord for His unending goodness and faithfulness to us?

Even, or perhaps, especially in this summer reset may we strive to continue to make the Main Thing, the main thing in our individual lives and in the midst of all our corporate campus functions!

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?....The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:1, 4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One Thing

Today marks another chapter closed - the last week of the school year, for some, the last week before launching into professional life armed with enthusiasm and education! Though this milestone is to be celebrated to the fullest, as a chaplain I’m not naive to some of the fears that hide just behind the veil of excitement:

• Perhaps you’re afraid your grades aren’t going to be where they need to be.
• Perhaps you still don’t have a job prospect and you fear you’re a failure.
• Perhaps you’re headed home for the summer and faced with navigating difficult relationships, trauma, abuse or neglect.
• Perhaps you’ve been trying to get a grasp on your mental health but everything you’ve been trying still doesn’t bring you clarity or peace.
• Perhaps you’re leaving Southern without a significant other and you wonder if God will ever being someone into your life.
• Perhaps some life situation has been hanging over your head, eating up your mental space and tugging at your emotions for weeks now and you just can’t seem to move forward.

Friend, remember this - The Lord is your light and your salvation! You need not be afraid! Now that’s not to say you shouldn’t study hard for your final exams or throw your hands up and completely give up without fear of the results of your actions. But it is to remind us that our worries and fears about our life here on earth are just as temporary as our life here on our earth.

David the Psalmist had one desire. There was one thing on his heart that overshadowed everything. He knew that if he were to dwell in the presence of God that everything else would fade away. It reminds me of that old familiar hymn:
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and face."

As you close this chapter to the school year and turn towards the warm summer sun, or strut the stage towards your diploma, or take a break from the hurried pace faculty or staff member, may all the fears and concerns you’re carrying today become strangely dim as you spend intentional time in the presence of your Heavenly Father who loves you. May this one eternal desire for Jesus upstage every other ambition or fear. And as you continue to make the Main Thing, the main thing this summer, may your heart and soul be radiant with the light of His glory and grace!