GroshLink

A few weeks ago I posted on Randy Pausch's final lecture stemming from his loosing battle with terminal pancreatic cancer.  Yesterday Theresa and I watched his appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show in which he reprised a portion of the CMU lecture ("Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams") and chatted w/Dr. Oz regarding facing death.

Not surprisingly Pausch's positive vision has been inspirational to many, his Sept. 18 lecture has been viewed online by more than 1.2 million people and I'm sure there will be more to come after his appearance on Oprah.

Last week a student was sharing with me how Randy is more articulate about his vision of life and embodies more Christian values than the Christians he knows in the University.  I have other things to attend to today, but I will comment briefly:

1.  Randy has a dynamic, smiling personality and at present a great physical condition, which is evident in his presentation.  Let's put aside the question of how many followers of Christ in Higher Education can give such a testimony and ask instead How representative of faculty in general or specifically at CMU is Randy?  Not many, he stands out because he brings his dynamism, creativity, great physical condition, and teambuilding to the table, others provide much that Randy cannot, which he openly admits.  Looking at it personally, although I might be able to present with energy as to my personal struggles with cancer, I would not be able to approach his dynamism (including his fitness demonstration) and I even if I could, I wouldn't be able to share a story which connects so well with the CMU subculture. 

2.  Randy was much more dynamic at CMU than on Oprah.  In addition, a number of the specifics which make his case so compelling at CMU were lost as he generalized/condensed for a wider audience.  His last lecture may have been a special moment, not reproducible even w/all of Oprah's assistance.  I've shared my life story a number of times, but there are some moments which are memorable and have a deep connection . . . even sacred.  Randy was calling the CMU community to join him on his mission to

3.  beat cancer through top medical research at Johns Hopkins, positive thinking, and if he dies by leaving a legacy first for his family, second for those with whom he has taught/researched.  Let's remember, when we hit a brick wall, we choose whether to try to get through it or try various other options such as fold in front of it, imagine it's not there, or try to get around it.  Randy's life philosophy and experience spurs him to break through the wall.  He has overcome (or restated) all the walls in his life (e.g., meeting, instead of being Captain Kirk, well William Shatner as Captain Kirk being placed on the virtual world bridge of the Enterprise in red alert with Randy's various Star Trek pieces of memorabilia) and the one which he didn't (NFL football) has been reframed as more important than others he's achieved.  So let's break through this wall! 

Hard to match a presentation given by one in the process of overcoming death by life, but satisified to be victorious by death as he leaves a legacy of overcoming to his family and students/colleagues.  Not many in the life situation to give this testimony and it helps to have the familial, institutional, financial, and technological resources to be an overcomer. By the way, he points to the importance of his parents and CMU as a community in his ability to overcome.  Note:  Contrasting inspirational story found in this morning's NY Times Op Ed The Long, Dark Night, a testimony of finding one's refuge in God when one faces cancer similar to Randy's without health insurance.  “So we’re selling the house,” he said. He sat quiet for a moment, then added in a soft voice, “You shouldn’t have to go live in a tent somewhere just because you don’t have insurance.”

4.  Common grace is given.  Randy touches on a number of shards of truth, e.g., We cannot change the hand of cards we're dealt, just how we play the hand . . . Choosing not to live in denial . . .  How to enable the dreams of others, which can even be more fun than achieving our own . . . The inspiration and the permission to dream is huge . . . Important to dream specific dreams . . . Brick walls are there for a reason:  they let us prove how badly we want things and stop the people who don't want it badly enough (the other people) . . . Some brick walls are made of flesh . . . Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome . . . I achieved more from not accomplishing a dream (playing in the NFL) than others which I did accomplish . . . It's all about fundamentals, otherwise the fancy stuff isn't going to work . . . Your critics are the ones showing you they care . . . "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted . . . Most of what we learn, we learn indirectly (or by "head fake") . . . They both said the same thing, but think about how they said it . . . Professors can have their cake and have eat it too . . . What better place (being a Professor) to enable childhood dreams, for Randy it was the course Building Virtual Worlds . . .  Response to what you do when you don't know where the bar can be placed, That was pretty good, I know you can do better . . . Raised to share . . .

5.  Final thoughts to what has become larger than intended.  At the heart of it all, I am an example of the loser which cannot break through walls like a superhero.  Yes, parents, community, and institutions are great resources.  But only the grace of God overcomes the outer darkness which lies within a broken heart/soul/mind, our firstborn's premature birth/death, the energy necessary for being married . . . raising twins . . . addressing Eden's developmental delays, facing life during/after cancer treatment, transitions in ministry, the new challenges which await me in the future. 

My purpose and direction is not based upon my childhood dreams of living in a galaxy far, far away or various achievements such as a large library and the opportunity to become part of the larger academic conversation but not owned by it, but instead rests in the One who has called me to himself.  Even in Elise Faith's and my own valley of the shadow of death, He is with me, my family, and the People of God which walk with us. 

I wake up and set my feet on the floor not to be a hero on a quest, a scientist unlocking the secrets of a mysterious world, a father/husband, or a blessing to those with whom I minister or live near.  First and formost I simply offer one more day to the One who has given me one more day.  When I faced radiation, it was a dream which was being fulfilled, a glorious death.  Instead God called me to care for an expanding family and ministry.  Why?  Because he isn't finished with me yet. 

AND it is my prayer that as Randy faces this wall, instead of breaking through, he'll give it to God.  Whether in miraculous life or in painful death, may each day be offered to the One who gave him great dynamism, creativity, ability to lead projects . . . and then we can play basketball together in our perfected bodies on the streets which are golden!  What a game that would be

With regard to Christian faculty, their calling first is rooted in loving God w/their heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Second they accept and understand the personality and gifts given to them by God and offer them to his service by using them to bless student, coworkers, family, neighbors, and the creation.  By doing such they reproduce the likeness of Jesus in our world, take part in the larger work of the People of God/Kingdom of God of overcoming the brokenness of the creation, and give a glimpse of the new heaven/new earth.  May they offer the brick walls in their life to God in order to live in such a manner.  For those in Central PA, join us on Tuesday, December 4, 7pm to hear F&M's Michael Murray give testimony to Spreading Salt and Casting Light: Christians in post-Christian colleges.

Still processing, open to revision, correction, rebuke, and the testimony/thoughts of others.