This week we were asked to lead the "Cornerstone Lecture Series" at HSU. As the world bemoans the crash of the stock market and the collapse of the finance sector, God is quietly working to provide the world with future leaders.
All week I have been impressed with the passion and vision of the next generation at HSU. Young men and women who have great insight into the most important things in life and a heart for their world have graciously welcomed us onto the campus. The student body as a whole has been attentive and insightful as they have listened. Their response has been kind and refreshing.
There is an important role for Christian education in our nation. Schools like HSU serve as places where teenagers can become adults as they grow in their understanding of God and his plans for their future. It seems to me that HSU provides the right balance of challenge and protection. Instead of fighting their professors and fellow classmates, (and God knows that there will be plenty of time for fighting those wars after graduation), students at Christian schools can deepen their faith and explore a wide variety of ideas with guides who share their worldview.
When I was growing up we used to plant a garden every spring. My dad would spend the winter saving coffee cans, (remember those?), in preparation for planting day. Dad would carefully cut out the ends of those cans and place one around each of tomato plants as we placed them in the ground. He knew that the West Texas winds who whip all through the spring. The cans would provide a little protection for the young plants while they established their root system and the stalks grew thick. A day would come when he felt comfortable removing the cans, but by that time, the plants had grown strong enough to stand against the wind.
That's what I have discovered at HSU this week. Not a group of students hiding from the world, but instead a group of men and women who are preparing to change it. I know that Christian students have a role at state schools, but I like what happens to those who choose our Baptist universities.
