thinking out loud by danny andrews

            Of all the wonderful "selling points" about our University, I wish I could say that "If you come to Wayland, you'll have no troubles in your life" – the same promise we wish we could make in urging people to place their faith in Christ.
            We know that neither is true – but in Christ we certainly have an incredible resource to deal with life's problems and challenges.
            I thought about that when Carolyn and I celebrated our 40th anniversary with a trip to Colorado Springs. We hosted three of my "brothers" in Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, and their wives for dinner. As I caught them up on my own brush with testicular cancer in late 2008, they shared about losing a child, battling a potentially life-threatening issue, and being gut-punched by the economic downturn.
            But all three testified to the Lord's faithfulness in their own trying circumstances.
Ken Tabor, BS’71, a retired social worker in Colorado Springs, shared: "In the late 1990s, an MRI revealed a small benign tumor between my skull and brain lining. What a blessing that it was found and followed. Though I never had any ‘warning signals,’ an MRI in 2008 revealed that the tumor had grown rapidly. It began pressing on the brain lining and crowding the frontal lobe. The doctors ordered immediate surgery – the prognosis was a 40 percent chance of having complications ranging from paralysis to death.
            "Before the surgery, I told my family that I would be OK either way as I know that I have a Savior. The surgery was successful, but my cognitive functions were foggy. I had to re-learn many things. During the yearlong recovery, I was thankful to receive hundreds of e-mails, phone calls and letters/cards of encouragement from WBU classmates and other friends.
            "I recently got an excellent one-year status report. I give God the praise and glory for the healing."
            Mike Ballew, BA’70, of Aurora, said: "The past year or two has presented new challenges, given the national financial situation and the Denver area real estate market. I have come to learn more about God's grace and that regardless of what type of loss we may deal with, He is always in control. So, with God in control, onward we go – always looking forward to His continued grace, mercy and love, until we see His face."
            Ric Hunt, BA’72, Director of Worship, Music and the Arts at Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs (wife Margaret, BA'73, is an agent for Spacious Sky Travel) shared: "On Dec. 9, 2005, our 26-year-old daughter, Allison Wells of Paragould, Ark., suddenly and without warning passed out and died. Unknown to anyone, she had had a mass growing in her brain. She was expecting her first child, our grandchild, who also was lost.
            "The years of anguish since that day have sometimes seemed more than we could bear. Our faith was shaken to its roots. Through time, God is assuring us of His goodness and faithfulness as we walk through the toughest days of this life. As Job reminds us, the Lord gives and also takes away. At all times, His name is blessed."
            As I reflected on their stories, I was reminded that we have a great God whose perfect plan included a great university. Through our Lord and Wayland, thousands around the world are inextricably linked – in good times as well as when we walk through dark valleys.
            At all times, His name is blessed.