Good morning! The Monday after Easter I remarked to quite a few here on campus that we were entering the last ever accelerating descent to commencement. We're sure in the middle of it now! And in this first year of a shortened Interterm, it seems it's coming on faster than ever. The last weeks and the two to come have been absolutely packed for me, and I'm sure the same is true for all of you. In just the last ten days we've seen our third Common Day of Learning, the ten year Comprehensive Visit of the Higher Learning Commission, and Agape…not to mention all the individual things you and I have done. For me that's included lots of good time with some of you; meeting with GCSA, meeting with your Senate, and even an overnight for me with the guys in College Avenue . But that's a story of it's own!

I thought the Common Day of Learning went great…and we'll be announcing the top four prize-winning presentations at the Senior chapel this week. I confess I found myself moved emotionally and I know several teams were taken by surprise by the impact this had on them. But I want to congratulate the senior class for their investment of time, energy, thought, and creativity. [Applause].

The Higher Learning Commission team visit also went well. Though we won't know officially how it turns out until the team's recommendations are acted on by the Commission itself in June, the team left us with very encouraging reports. In speaking to us the day they left, they used words like, “Extremely well done!”, “Fantastic!”, “You should be quite pleased!”, “Keep doing what you're doing!” They gave us a list of 9 commendations, and one of them remarked on the commitment of faculty, administration, and staff to the college Mission . They said, “We saw it all over!” They mentioned two long-time employees in the custodial service who just bubbled over with their sense of the privilege of working to help young people grow.

Over the past seven years when I speak in chapel I have often focused on a paradox of real world living, or on specific virtue of character because these are both at the heart of our mission at GC, and are among the most difficult parts of that mission even to understand, much less to communicate. I've talked about Hope, Peace, Responsibility, Truth, Discipline, Courage, Knowledge, Love, Faith, and Patience. But last week, as I thought about what to say today, I realized just how much you are teaching me , teaching us all in our community. That was clear to me in my “slumber party” at College Avenue , it was obvious during the Common Day of Learning, and it hit me like a bolt as I read last week's Papyrus! I was impressed…I was grateful…and most of all I was humbled! So many of you actually “Get it!” I mean you really seem to understand what this place is all about.

So instead of telling you what I think, I thought I'd do something a little different today. I thought I'd just “walk through” the Papyrus, and underscore what some of you have already said so well. As I do, I apologize in advance to authors not mentioned and topics not addressed. There were so many. And I also want to commend Prof Susan Chism, the Papyrus advisor. That job is tough given that the paper opens up the intimacy of our community classroom to the public and because she gets squeezed between students on one side and administration on the other. She has done a great job!

I want to entitle my remarks, “Odds & Ends” but you know me well enough by now to realize I can't stop there…I have to say something about Character & Service…so let's just say, “Odds & Ends: “Getting It” for Character & Service.”

PRAYER

1. ODDS: Last week's Papyrus did have its share of the “Odd!”

Jonathan Baker-Johnson's report (p4) on the impact of his wearing a skirt was funny, interesting, provocative, and I think also ODD!

Matt Good , “Fighter of Werewolves with Bravado and Aplomb” gave us a somewhat odd, not to say bizarre list of “People of Eternity!” (p8) Honoring his friends John, Caitlin, & Katie made sense but at least the “Salad Girl” was certainly ODD!

Finally, I can't speak for you but, random instructional selections from the Golf Digest (p11), and a big picture of unknown senior citizens obscurely rubbing their left shoulders with their right hands in synchronization (p11) both struck me as pleasantly ODD!

2. ENDS: Enough on ODDS…what about ENDS? Well the Pap said goodbye to three among us who will be leaving. The articles on Tiffani Riggers and Prof Scott, remind us that they were outspoken leaders among us for the name of Christ and for the concerns of women and minorities. It should raise among us all the question from Ezekiel 22, “Who will make up the hedge, and stand in the gap….” in the place of these who leave us. We will indeed miss them.

Josh Kenyon's farewell to Prof. Mulholland was another story about ENDS (p6). The picture of Dr. Muholland in 1971 reminded me of my early encounters with him when I was a part-time teacher here that year. The later white-bearded pictures remind me of course of the day his passion and tears for the liberal arts influenced me to accept the invitation to come to my present job at this college. And of course they reminded me of the many hours we have worked together with COR 401, and the times when he has reminded us that Jesus rose from the dead “BOOOOODDDDDILLLLY!” I don't recall the “frequent visits” Dr. Mulholland reports to the president's office. Either he's reformed or I'm too soft! While he has issues with the institutional church, Dr. Mulholland has always loved this community. He has embooooddddieeed loyalty and persistence..especially in his participation in chapel. Who will stand in that gap…or should I say sit in that seat for him! I pray the Lord will call others to do so. His passion for creating an environment of seeking truth…including if necessary, through confrontation….has made him as Josh says so well, a “de facto mid-wife” for many students and faculty alike. Dr. Mulholland YOU GET IT! And we'll miss you!

3. CHARACTER & SERVICE: So there you have a few ODDS, and a few farewells…I mean a few ENDS. But what about Character & Service? Consider these examples from the Pap of people who “Get It!

Service : Regarding service, Jonathan Baker-Johnson's piece (p2) on “The Technology Myth: Kaboonk” in my judgment describes a brilliant example of what service-oriented creativity can produce. By providing an internet based way to sell used text-books within and between campuses, it benefits those selling better to afford their college education, while turning a profit that benefits those in Korea who could not otherwise afford higher education. It proves you can “make money off students!” That sounds bad, but my son, who studied micro-economic development used to tell me his purpose was to prove you could “make money off poor people.” That sounded bad too until he explained that it meant there was hope for sustainable development even among the poor. I hope many of you will even use Kaboonk in the next few weeks. Of course what I always prefer is that students keep their books for the rest of their lives! But if you intend to sell them why not help yourself, help fellow students, and help a Korean student!

Character : That brings me to character!

John Brittingham ….I think “You Get It!” In your piece, “The Last Word,” (p8) you talk about musical loyalty. That's an insightful idea. As I rode to Highland with Ellen yesterday in her Mini Cooper, with the radio blasting her favorites from Chicago and Billy Joel, I realized you are right! We are loyal to our roots…what we cut our musical teeth on. Sadly, I was a nerd in high school living in Brasil far from popular American radio. So I never developed musical “teeth.” Instead, I largely adopted Ellen's music…except Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand I'm proud to say! I guess I also embraced that of my children too before branching out on my own to a love of rag-time piano and George Gershwin.

But John you go on to also talk about a kind of musical maturity, that is creative and open to new forms. That sounded to me a lot like the outcome of character that I sometimes call, “Critical commitment.” I long for our graduates to be people who are still passionately and faithfully committed to their roots of faith in Jesus Christ, but who are also self-critical and open in their attitudes towards others with whom they disagree. It's tough to be loyal and also open spirited. But John, it seems “You get it!”

Ben Eggebeen …I think “You Get It!” too. In your cleverly titled piece, “A Burning Question!” (p4) you challenge us all regarding theft of intellectual property….an item by the way cited by the Higher Learning Commission team as a priority for our attention in the coming years! You remind us that illegal downloading of music is really a matter of integrity! How many times have we heard that character is formed NOT by the big decisions we make at moments of crises in our lives, but rather by the hundreds of little decisions we make every day….including those regarding what can only be called theft and deception. Whether theft of material or intellectual property…whether deception in “spinning” casual conversation or reporting on income taxes….it IS as you say a matter of integrity. I loved your statement that such things are just “not worth compromising your integrity over.” Ben, it seems “You get it!”

Matt Good ….I think “You Get It! Your piece on the “Whit Board Debacle” (p3) is right on target….you shoot us in the heart…all of us, students, faculty, staff, and administration! In reporting on Ian Kitterman's perhaps “Quixotic” effort to fight apathy you point out that his efforts brought out the worst of our community. Rightfully you remind us that we are not a perfect place. We don't do as much as we should to observe the Lifestyle Expectations. We don't keep the Sabbath the way we ought. Faculty don't attend chapel the way they should. But while I didn't see the specific “Whit Board response postings you describe, you rightfully point out that generally the real issue is that we don't seem capable of disagreeing with one another in a loving or even civil way. Instead of beginning our disagreements biblically with a personal private discussion that builds relationship bridges over which can travel the traffic of disagreement, we launch broadsides in public.

Those broadsides, are as you put it, “littered with personal attacks” and “ill-advised judgment.” You're right when you say, “They tear people down…and show our willingness to focus on legalism vs. principles…..[on] the trees vs. the forest.” You rightfully conclude that this “misses the point” which is not about the letter of the lifestyle law but about the principles of community and the spirit of our own integrity.

I don't know why, but it seems in our nation in general there is abroad a devilish spirit that is quick to anger, quick to attack. It seems it's all we know how to do when problems arise. Instead of imagining the other's point of view we thoughtlessly leap to ascribe the worst possible motives to others. Think about road rage or constant legal action. Often around us these attacks are done with a very limited vocabulary primarily of variations on the “f” word. But even when salted by educated language, they still amount to the same ad hominem attacks.

These undermine community every time, and show a shameful lack of character inconsistent with our hopes and dreams for Christians in general and Greenville graduates in particular. How often we all do this as faculty, administrators, staff, or students…failing to give the benefit of the doubt, failing to focus on the issue instead of the personal motives, leaping to judgment and anger. We might well benefit from a COR 401 year on “Pent up anger in America !” We might well benefit from a campus discussion of Richard Mouw's book, Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World. Matt, I really think “You Get It!”

Chase Macri ….I think “You Get It” too! (By the way Chase, you and the guys did a great job with the Funeral of Jeremy Scott…one of the best!) In your article, “Get Signed or Die” (p3) you articulate clearly what I think may be one of the most important lessons in post-modern epistemology…in fact one of the most important lessons that I wish every Greenville grad understood. You say you believe Absolute Truth exists, “even if what we see is only our own perceived reality.” Many suppose that to hold one of these is to deny the other. In other words, some say that if we believe in Absolute Truth, then our particular “lens” is the only correct way perceive it. Those who disagree are liberals or heretics. On the other hand, others say that because we always see through personal perspectives, there cannot therefore be any Absolute Truth. But to hold both these claims together, in tension, in paradox, as you do, may seem simple as you say, but is perhaps the toughest yet most important lesson I cherish for our graduates. Christ is the “Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6)….but for now “we see through a glass darkly” and only then “face to face.” (I Cor 13:12)

But Chase, you even go beyond recognizing the need to embrace this paradox. You say if this is so, then “it is meaningful and even required for us to engage [this Truth] to our utmost.” Chase, “You Get It!” The paradox, the mystery of the incarnation “demands my soul, my life, my all.” In Tillich's words it is the object of “Ultimate Concern.” Echoing the prophetic preaching of Pastor Newton these last three months, you remind us it's not what we know that counts, but our faith in things outside and beyond our control. And you remind us that faith is not primarily intellectual (The Greeks called that “pistis”) but relational (The Hebrews called it “emunah”). It is trust. It is love. You rightfully conclude that when we are “Crushed by the real outside of college life” we must remember that “God takes care of his children and all He asks of me is simply to believe it is so. (Matt 10:29) Thanks Chase, “You Get It!”

Finally, Zach ….I think “You Get It!” too! (p4) And you leave me marveling at what a wonderful transformation can occur in this place. Your words speak for themselves as you show a remarkable grasp of the beauty of a true community of Christian scholars…rather than some idealized adolescent vision of one. You start by saying “I love this place!” That's bold! Love is bold, even when it's open-eyed not blind. And yours is open-eyed. You recognize we are not perfect, for example when you recognize that change takes an especially long time in a small community where we haven't learned well enough to disagree with civility. But you have not become cynical. You are hopeful. Among today's educated, that is surely a sign of faith. You still believe that the character of persistence will prevail…even “ ensuring ” that change will come…perhaps even with regard to dancing! By the way, good job Kate . You gave us just the news…accurately too…in a day when the media has too often become a “yellow” circus of “pick your flavor” from NY Times liberal to Fox News conservative.

Zach, your words say what we hope is true of this college: “We are taught to think…not what to think.” “We are to search for truth wherever truth hides because it is in this truth that we find God.” And you say, “The faculty. Oh the faculty. They love us like we are their own kids.” You end by saying, “I will miss them as much as I miss anything.” Thanks Zach, “You Get It!”

We are going to miss all of you seniors too. You have become our teachers, means by which we have seen Christ present among us. I began this year suggesting to all our staff the theme of “Sacramental Community.” By that I meant that just as the sacrament of communion is a means whereby Christ is really present, so too then, our community can be a means whereby Christ is really present. Our chapel theme for the year has built on that theme, using the stories of members of our community to incarnate Christ's presence among us. The stories I have shared today from some of your lips show this sacramental character of our community once again. I pray and believe that many more than just these I've mentioned have “Got It!” I pray that each of you, whether returning or not, has been transformed closer to the image of Jesus Christ, both in spirit and in truth. May God bless you, and keep you and make His face shine on you and give you His peace.