Last summer I undertook an odyssey. As with Ulysses, mine too came at the end of nearly ten years of struggle – both at the College and with my wife’s battle with cancer. Also like his journey it was roundabout. I bounced between coastal waters, and ended up at home. Like his, this too was a watershed in my life. With Ellen's passing in June I needed new perspective, so I headed out in her Mini Cooper convertible to say goodbye, driving 6000 miles over two months to visit my children in California and New York. I passed the continental divide in Colorado, where waters run in opposite directions. I faced the soaring heat of the Nevada desert and then welcomed the refreshing breeze and waters of Laguna Beach. With family I said farewell to Ellen as we distributed her remains in the Pacific. I crossed the mountains again, and by way of Albuquerque, Dallas, and Atlanta, found myself walking, reading, and resting alongside the Hudson River in lower Manhattan. The waters there pass beneath Lady Liberty as they mix with those of the East River and join the Atlantic. Back in Greenville, I found joy in the good work of those who had remained behind, but new challenges in problems with Hogue Hall.

"Watershed moments" according to Gail Taylor are moments "when the story changes." In describing the events of September 11, 2001, she points out that whether they are chosen or forced upon us, they provide opportunities to "step up" to what is better. These are days of watershed at Greenville College. We have seen a second year of not just record enrollment but substantial growth....up 80 then up 100 additional students in two years. We ended last year with probably the largest surplus in our history. We completed twelve months without need for our line of credit. We undertook and completed $4.5 million in new construction and remodeling over the summer. We have created an Office of Strategic Innovation, with $70,000 set aside annually for imagining and launching new programs. Year long master planning was coming to a conclusion in preparation for board meetings this fall, including design plans for an exciting new chapel auditorium that will capture in symbol and in fact, the way Greenville's story is transformed....the same yet changed.

So when the distraction of urgent repair needed for Hogue arose suddenly it was easy to complain and to ask "Why now?" But after "whining" privately to God, it became apparent that seizing the opportunity of watershed moments depends on our leadership. I remembered my exhortation last fall. I called us to expect "More than we could ever ask or imagine!" He provided, so why should He not do so again? He can give us what we need to manage our growth. He can give us new places for 70 employees as we move out of Hogue Hall. So He can give us $5 million needed to rebuild that place. What's more, He can do it not instead of but in addition to providing us with another $5 million to move ahead on our chapel. Why should $10 million be any harder for Him than $5 million?

Within days of this "watershed," we began to see His hand at work. The governor of Illinois visited campus and pledged his support. A potential donor for the chapel contacted us. And employees have shown the most amazing spirit of cooperation and positive attitude imaginable. Of course we do not know the final results of any of this. But watersheds are like that. They are almost imperceptible changes of direction, still pools shifting onto new courses that will eventually rush headlong in exciting and energizing new directions. That is Greenville College today. By God's grace the new directions will be His directions and the results always honoring to Him.