Phillip A. Bishop,
Exercise Physiology,
University of Alabama
[March 6, 2011] —
We academics like quizzes. In 1911:
a) Who was President of Harvard?
b) Who won the Nobel Prize in Physics?
c) Who was promoted to full professor?
d) Who won the World Series?
How’d you do? Not very well, I’m guessing. Chances are, except for my 5th grade history teacher (who was teaching in 1911), very few would know these answers.
In 2111:
Who will be President of Harvard?
Who will win the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine?
Who will be promoted to full professor at your school?
Who will win the World Series?
What Will Matter?
What will matter 100 years from now? (The Series notwithstanding.) Probably not how many papers I published or whether my NIJ grant proposal for the core temperature under soft body armor got funded or not. But, some things will matter in 100 years, in 500 years, and in 1000 years.
C. S. Lewis wrote: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” (From The Weight Of Glory.)
Our students, our colleagues, our staff, (even our dean) will matter in 100 years.
Many things I think are most important really are merely urgent. They won’t matter. Yeah, I wanted tenure. Yeah, I try to do a good job teaching, researching, and in service. I am commanded to glorify God in all that I do (Col 3:17). But I remind myself, even right now, that those things are a good means to an end, but they aren’t the end.
Yesterday was final exams day and at least half a dozen, or closer to a dozen, students came by my office. I am ADHD, so at times I had two and occasionally three conversations going simultaneously.I could get more research done, write more grant proposals, and do more other stuff, if I didn’t waste all this time talking to grad students, to undergrads, and to Faron who so faithfully cleans our building every weekday.
My Immortal Students
I attend graduations and volunteer to marshal for them. I do it to remind myself that people matter. A friend once reminded me of the power of “presence.” Just that we care enough about others to be there speaks volumes. We are given many opportunities each semester, probably more than many pastors get. The Lewis quote rings in my head. Students, staff, colleagues, deans: immortal.
See you in 100 years.
Answers to the quiz:
a) A Lawrence Lowell
b) Wilhelm Wien
c) Among others, Konrad Hartvig Isak Rosenvinge Nielsen was promoted to professor of Finno-Ugric languages at the Royal Frederick University (University of Oslo) in 1911.
d) The Philadelphia Athletics beat the New York Giants. (The photo is of Connie Mack, manager)
© 2011 Phillip A. Bishop ©photo courtesy flickr user John McNab
Exercise Physiology
University of AlabamaWe academics like quizzes. In 1911:
a) Who was President of Harvard?
b) Who won the Nobel Prize in Physics?
c) Who was promoted to full professor?
d) Who won the World Series?
How’d you do? Not very well, I’m guessing. Chances are, except for my 5th grade history teacher (who was teaching in 1911), very few would know these answers.
In 2111:
Who will be President of Harvard?
Who will win the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine?
Who will be promoted to full professor at your school?
Who will win the World Series?
What will matter 100 years from now? (The Series notwithstanding.) Probably not how many papers I published or whether my NIJ grant proposal for the core temperature under soft body armor got funded or not. But, some things will matter in 100 years, in 500 years, and in 1000 years.
C. S. Lewis wrote: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting.” (From The Weight Of Glory.)
Our students, our colleagues, our staff, (even our dean) will matter in 100 years.
Many things I think are most important really are merely urgent. They won’t matter. Yeah, I wanted tenure. Yeah, I try to do a good job teaching, researching, and in service. I am commanded to glorify God in all that I do (Col 3:17). But I remind myself, even right now, that those things are a good means to an end, but they aren’t the end.
Yesterday was final exams day and at least half a dozen, or closer to a dozen, students came by my office. I am ADHD, so at times I had two and occasionally three conversations going simultaneously.
Tomorrow is graduation. I will attend, and once again I volunteered to be a marshal. I do it to remind myself that people matter, even students. As Lewis said it, my students are immortal. Seeing them in one of those rare, totally-happy moments, meeting their parents, congratulating one and all; these things matter. A friend once reminded me of the power of “presence”. Just that we care enough to be there speaks volumes.
I could get more research done, write more grant proposals, and do more other stuff, if I didn’t waste all this time talking to grad students, to undergrads, and to Faron who so faithfully cleans our building every weekday. But the Lewis quote rings in my head. Students are immortal. Deans are immortal.
What can we do that will be remembered in 100 years? If we wisely use the resources and opportunities that God provides, we can all make an impact that will ring through eternity. We are given many opportunities each semester, probably more than many pastors get. What will I do that will matter? How will I defend NOT doing things that would matter in favor of things that most assuredly will not?
See you in 100 years.
Answers to the quiz:
a) A Lawrence Lowell
b) Wilhelm Wien
c) Among others, Konrad Hartvig Isak Rosenvinge Nielsen was promoted to professor of Finno-Ugric languages at the Royal Frederick University (University of Oslo) in 1911.
d) The Philadelphia Athletics beat the New York Giants.
© 2011 Phillip A. Bishop ©photo courtesy flickr user John McNab