I’m realizing how narrow my vision is. I get so busy in seeing the urgent problems in front of me, that I forget to step back and see the bigger picture in what is actually happening. For example, since I work in Purchasing, and it’s currently nearing the fiscal-year end, we’ve had a high volume of orders come in the last couple of weeks. In the hecticness, it’s easy to get easily stressed and overwhelmed, which also results in my lack of patience with people, and a growing bitterness towards people who all seem to be demanding rush orders all at the same time. While I’m normally quite accommodating to requests, in my stressed state, I get easily irritated by the most urgent requests. Then I get annoyed at my boyfriend who just wants to make me laugh to cut some of the tension in the middle of the day. And I want to just shut down and sleep, hoping to just escape the wave of stress.
It was in this tired state, (literally, I had just woken up from a 4-hour nap as my friend texted me that she was on the way to pick me up, and I frantically got dressed in my formal attire), that I went to the Biola Concert featuring Phil Wickham, Josh Garrels, and The Brilliance at the Ace Hotel last Saturday. This concert was accompanying the main gala that was happening as it was the launch of the public fundraising campaign of Biola. While I thoroughly enjoyed the music, since I’m a fan of all of these musicians, the exciting part of the night was when they announced that $3.9 million was raised that night for Biola’s campaign. It’s exciting to see the ways God is providing for Biola through the generosity of donors and in the ways people are catching onto the vision of furthering the kingdom through biblically-centered higher education. I also was encouraged, as I watched all the various Biola staff people working so hard throughout the night. It’s interesting working in the Purchasing office, since I have the opportunity to work with every department, and it’s great to see how each department contributes to the functioning of Biola. I’m grateful for the Advancement team, who worked so hard to plan this event and push for this campaign. I’m also thankful for all of the other departments who made the event and campaign possible. It’s exciting to see Biola emphasize the need to push for the sciences, since much of the funding will be going to the building of a new science and technology building.
I actually got to see a glimpse of what is going on in the sciences at Biola as I attended the Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering end-of-the-year banquet last Friday, with my boyfriend, who currently adjuncts for the CPE department. It’s cool to see the ways the science professors, who are excellent scholars, love God, and encourage their students to not just excel in their fields, but to truly integrate their faith with their studies. I’m also encouraged by the way these professors care for their students and know their students so well. I was moved by watching their deep care for their graduates. I was also reminded by the ways God works in great ways as Dr. John Bloom, the chair of the CPE department, spoke on Ephesians 3:20-21,
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
As he showed a picture of space and the visible universe, I was struck by how great God is as being the Creator of it all, and how little earth is in comparison of it all. As humans learn more about space and space exploration (even as my co-worker dreamt of getting her spaceship bus license), I’m amazed at how little we actually know and how much more there is to explore. God is the wonderful Creator of our great big universe and He works in such great ways. I’m blown away by His work and His provision, and how He will continue to provide in such amazing ways. Since He is the One who provides and works, all of the glory belongs to Him.
So today my prayer is, “Lord, please expand my vision of You, and help me see the ways You are working. Amen.”
Leave a Reply