Well, it's been quite a while since I put one of these out: probably something like two years. Nevertheless, I still remember how it's done, because how it's done is basically however it strikes my fancy to do it. This is my way of catching up with all of you, keeping up with correspondences, and even starting new ones. If anything, use this as an excuse to write or call and give me the low-down on how you are doing.
I Got Home from College on Time!
This might not seem like any big deal to you, but I was in for a quite a transient early summer according to original plans. Going to college in Western Pennsylvania and living in South Carolina does not make for easy transitions between school and vacations. This summer would have no exception, were it not for the generosity of a good friend of our family. Originally, it was arranged that I would stay with these friends after school was over for a few weeks until my father came up to the area in order to go to the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, the big annual church government meeting for my family's denomination. I would have killed this time in service to the Ranchod's baby-sitting, helping Mr. Ranchod out with his business, and so on, in exchange for room and board. By this arrangement I would have gotten home sometime in mid-June. All this changed when Mr. Ranchod offered me passage home on an airplane at the earliest possible opportunity. It turns out that he travels often on business, and he had some frequent flyer miles to spare, so he quite generously arranged for my flight home. Let me just take this space to thank the Ranchod's for their hospitality and generosity, and to say that I hope I may return the favor someday.
In a word, "WAHOO!"
Well, I wasn't home for long before I got my report card for the spring semester. I was so nervous about the contents of that particular envelope, that I delayed opening it, to the point that I even took great interest in a bank statement that arrived on the same day. But let me explain myself. For those of you who don't know, before the beginning of this past school year, I was fortunate enough to be one of twelve freshmen chosen to receive the Grove City College Trustee scholarship, which paid for all of my tuition, on the lone condition that at the end of each year I ended up with a GPA of 3.60 or greater.
Well, I opened the envelope, searched frantically for the all-important number, and then proceeded to do the Dance of Joy. Get a load of this: 3.61!! I think back on the past year and think of all the mistakes and bad judgments I made, and I really must chalk this victory up to the mercy of God. He gave me the determination to persevere and forgave my shortcomings just enough so that I could continue to study Mechanical Engineering at minimal cost to my family, who could ill afford it otherwise. It's the closeness of this triumph which leads me to believe that God was with me, and it's almost like he let it be this close to keep me humble and dependent on him for each continual gift of life that he gives me. Every time I remember this, I give out a "WAHOO!" and another prayer of thanks. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ...If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" [Matt. 7:9,11]