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MEDITATION:

Written by Ruth Grendell.

I recently received a memorial article about a former faculty friend.  Victor Heasley taught undergraduate chemistry courses for 48 years at Point Loma Nazarene University. He, also, founded a summer research program that provided the opportunity for students to gain additional research experience and to participate as co-authors of articles for scientific journals. Vic continued his own research and authored a chemistry book and many scholarly articles.  When asked why he taught for so many years, his answers were: “Students were exciting to be around; they were filled with new ideas and thoughts which brought meaning to my life. The education setting is a place of dreams—a place of hoping, planning, reaching, succeeding.  Each student meant a new and different relationship—these relationships and friendships kept me going for so many years!”  He was authentic in his concern that the students have a faith, a foundation beneath their learning; remembering honesty, faithfulness to others, compassion for those who are hurting and alone, and a relationship with the eternal God.”

It was a privilege to work with Vic on the faculty council and to learn from him—for modeling his approach with my students when he taught our nursing students to understand the research process and how to apply the information in their clinical healthcare settings.  He was a great mentor when I conducted my own research study for the advanced degree. Now, I have become a mentor to several nursing graduates. What a privilege!  As I reflect on my contacts with Vic, I think about the people who have benefited from their skills of hoping, planning, reaching, succeeding, as well as demonstrating their faith that the graduates have applied in their careers. 

PRAYER:

This prayer is from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979, of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA.

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Take My Life and Let It Be: Performed by Chris Tomlin. The hymn was written by Frances Havergal in 1874.