New Beginnings
By Alumni Council Chair Rick Williamson (PhD '02, MA '98)
Dr. Rick Williamson
Each September, Fuller’s campus is infused with a fresh cohort of eager seminarians. Many of them express great anticipation and enthusiasm for the “Kingdom work” ahead. So contagious is their zeal for even the most mundane aspects of the ministry that I rediscover the true significance of my own “everyday” work.
At this point in my life, the “everyday” entails not only ministry and work, but also casual friendships, community involvement, and family life. While I tend to forget that these too are a part of Kingdom work, the new beginning each fall enables me to appreciate how very special these indeed are.
This past week, I had the new experience of accompanying my daughter to her first day of preschool. The most salient part of this event was my own separation anxiety. She, on the other hand, was all too excited to engage her new milieu of crayons, toys, and playground equipment. Some beginnings involve having to let go. While leaving her on her own was a bit scary and unpleasant for me, it was good for her. I now realize that both of us grew a little on that day.
In the years to come, my daughter and I will repeat the school routine on a daily basis. We may both come to view it as mundane and a part of our “everyday.” But, on the first day of each of her successive school years, I’ll be reminded again of the significance of the everyday.
What I’ve learned from my daughter’s first day of preschool and from my contact with new seminarians each year is that there is nothing mundane or ordinary about new beginnings. During these times, everything is imbued with a sense of purpose. Only with the passage of time do we settle back into the routines. I encourage you to consider the significance of your “everyday” this season. New beginnings help to set this context and are reminders of life’s preciousness.