Sam Matteson, Physics
University of North Texas

 “Why don’t you come to the National Faculty Leadership Conference?  I think that you will enjoy it,” Steve, our Faculty Commons campus staff worker, suggested to me one day last spring.
 
“I don’t know. . . . I’m really busy and . . . vacation and . . . the cost . . .” I stammered, fumbling for a reasonable excuse to avoid thinking about another conference. 

I Became Convinced That I Should Go

Nevertheless, as the weeks unfolded I became convinced that I should, indeed, go.  Despite my initial apprehension, I went. And, I concluded by the second session of the conference that the effort was well worth the exertion. Moreover, in the days since, I have not regretted putting aside my reservations and objections, even delaying my vacation to attend.
 
I listened to captivating stories told in voices articulate, recounted by nationally prominent academic leaders who are not only noted scholars in their own disciplines but also are skilled interpreters of the bigger story that is the Gospel narrative. I also listened to colleagues in conversation, who, like me, labor in more obscure corners of the kingdom to translate the good news into the vernacular of our discipline and academic culture.
  
I chatted and thought, and, yes, even argued with brothers and sisters in an environment that felt safe to try on fresh ideas about God in my life and work.  It was as invigorating as a swim in a fresh ocean of ideas.  As I sat meditating in the few quiet moments, I felt the Spirit like a warm breeze blowing on shore, and I heard their voices drifting on the wind.
 

The Vision Of Christ For My Campus

I heard voices calling to me, unique, different voices from Ivy League and West Coast, from research universities and community colleges, the voices of theologians, of economists, and of anthropologists, all very human, all intentional, all passionate.  They called to me to catch the vision of Christ for my campus, for all of academia.  I heard their voices, differently nuanced and inflected from my own and from each other to be sure, but I was blessed by them all, enriched by their individual spiritual and intellectual dialects.  I left feeling the words of the hymn reverberating in my heart and mind.  “Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise.”
 
Alas, back on my campus my one voice seems muted and sometimes is masked by the din of the clamor around me. But I was inspired by my experience to add my unique and authentic voice to the mighty chorus that I now know goes up to God from universities and colleges all across North America and the world.  I am not alone; God is with me and I stand shoulder-to-shoulder singing the same song with many brothers and sisters all across the land, even if they may lift it with a different voice, with a different timbre and in a different place.

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© 2008 Samuel E. Matteson    Used by permission of Faculty Commons