My plant is dying. A couple of weeks ago I bought a flowering/leafing/cactusing type plant at a little flower shop and brought it to my office. It’s green and has pretty red flowers, but I have been neglecting it this past week, and today, the flowers are looking pretty sad. It brings so much color and joy to my desk; I must learn to take better care of it.
Board meetings this weekend were successful, and I received many positive comments on the things I was responsible for. June Michealsen (Chair of the Board, of the Michealsen centras on campus) asked if she could clone me and take me back to Santa Barbara with her. June is one of the classiest, business-savviest ladies I’ve ever met, and I consider this a high compliment. She also offered me a room in their house anytime I needed a retreat in Southern California. I hope to take her up on that someday! Although it was draining and stressful, my work with the Board these past weeks has been highly encouraging and motivating.
The actual meetings were extremely interesting, and at one point during a marketing discussion I was asked to share what captured my attention about LCC as a Study Abroad. Something about wanderlust, the balance between Big Scary Russia and 10-countries/10-days EuroRail, and a focused market…I don’t remember what I said, but it must have made sense.
During a discussion about Financial Aid and student loans, Jim (Mininger, President) made a comment regarding security versus freedom. He noted that while Americans have a tradition of fighting for personal advancement and freedom at the cost of financial security (credit cards…), Lithuanians, and to an even greater extent people from CIS countries will opt for security at the cost of freedom. In a nation such as Lithuania, where the average salary is 1300 lt/month (USD 481), and my rent and utilities average 1000 lt/month, the desperation and need for bread and potatoes for your family at the cost of personal rights seems understandable.
During closing comments, Dwight Wyse, chair of the Finance Committee, shared this Jim Cole song.
Learning and Unlearning
I’ve been learning and unlearning
All the lessons of my past
And lately I’ve been yearning
Just to rest in You at last
And this love affair with darkness
Is losing hold on me
And I’m stronger now before You
But not as strong as I might be
I need You, Lord
So won’t You be my Father
To the orphaned child in me
And could You be my shelter
And the grace by which I see
I’ve been certain and uncertain
Of the Light upon my path
And I’m searching for the wisdom
To know my future from my past
But in my life’s situations
Your promise still remains
Your goodness is for certain
And Your love is just the same
I need You, Lord
LCC is continually in a state of transition as it seeks to more clearly define who it is and what it wants to become. Its past is incredible and a testimony to God’s faithfulness, yet there is an understanding that there will very likely be a bigger disconnect between 10 years from now and today than there is from today to 10 years ago. Yet God’s promises remain.
The Board meetings were closed with the singing of the Doxology. I couldn’t even get out the first “Praise God from whom…” before I was choked with tears. LCC is so clearly God’s school, and I am so blessed to be a part, and feel such responsibility to care for His work here. I may never come home.
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