It’s Friday and we’ll soon be packing our stuff in the van to head back toward life in the fast lane. Since Tuesday, we’ve been hiding out in the hills of Malibu … specifically Pepperdine University. I’m in my dorm room listening to Chicago’s greatest hits (I wanted something spiritual in the background!) and enjoying the serenity of this magnificent place.
It was fifteen years ago that I first came to Los Angeles for the Pepperdine Lectureship. Growing up in conservative north Alabama I stood at the baggage claim area of Los Angeles International Airport thinking I would be mugged any moment. That fear escalated as we went through the process of securing a rental vehicle. But I survived and found myself immersed in the teachings of people such as Rubel Shelly, Max Lucado, Mike Cope, Rick Atchley, Joe Beam, my former Greek professor, Dr. Carrol Osborne, and my all-time favorite, Dr. Oliver Howard. These men helped me think through some tough issues that had plagued me for some time. Particularly Drs. Howard and Osborne—both brilliant Greek scholars. Dr. Howard is also a Hebrew and legal scholar. Together, they walked me through some tough questions regarding women’s role in the Kingdom.
Where I grew up, Pepperdine had a reputation of being “the breeding ground for false teachers.” After 15 consecutive years, I can honestly report that I’ve never seen false teachers breeding here. But I have feasted on the teachings of men and women who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. I have a great appreciation for those who sacrificed so that I could be here.
Fifteen years later, the teaching is not what draws me to Pepperdine, not that I have found all knowledge and have no need of teaching. Today it’s the friendships I’ve developed here. When the weather is good, it’s the Thursday night trip out to “the rock,” a huge piece of whatever kind of rock these mountains are made of hanging out over a few hundred feet of nothing, overlooking the Pacific. For several years we’ve gone out on the rock to pray and hold one another accountable. It’s the highlight of the week. Unfortunately, this year the weather prevented us from going out there. Last year “the rock” visit resulted in a friend of many years finally deciding to give his life to the Lord. He was baptized a few weeks later back in central Florida and is back this year.
So this afternoon we’ll head down the mountain, so to speak, and return to Long Beach. Most of the guys will fly home from either LAX or Long Beach airport. My friend of 20 years, Cecil, will be staying an extra night to attend Joshua’s college graduation. I find it appropriate that Cecil will be with us. He has proven himself to be that proverbial friend “who sticks closer than a brother.”
Later …
Bro:
I’m a little late in commenting on this blog but better late than never to blog I recently say.
It takes a lot of work for me to get the opportunity to come to Pepperdine. The “work” starts with my lovely wife who has for the past 14 years, graciously consented on my annual pilgrimage to Malibu and your family. She should get a “Marriage Medal of Honor” for what she went through last week. We had a couple decide to move into our upstairs while I was in “SoCal.” This meant she had to pack up the remains of my Mother’s belongings (she passed away 7 years ago) and move them downstairs. In addition, my Father-in-law decided to “help” me by replacing the carpet in my living room, hallway, and son’s bedroom with laminate as well as paint the walls in these rooms. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for his help but this put a lot of work on my wife that would have normally rested on my shoulders.
As far as me personally, I had to build up 24 hours of overtime / comp time to make it economically feasible for me to make the trip to Pepperdine. This meant hours of covering for absent teachers as well as chaperoning some of our dances.
To continue this poor old me routine, being gone for a week means having to prepare lesson plans for a substitute teacher that involves assignments, attendance records, and emergency procedures to name a few of the things that classroom teachers take for granted after years of experience.
This effort also generates “Post-Pepperdine” work. I don’t expect a substitute teacher to grade a week’s worth of papers. I have approximately 140 students. If you figure on 5 days of work this works out to 700 papers give or take the few students that blow off the weak due to my absence.
Having said all of the above I can still say the work is worth the reward after 14 years. I’ve often said that the Saturday through Tuesday that we stay with my good friend Greg in Long Beach, brings enough joy and regeneration to sustain me through the year. The lectures at Pepperdine are the icing on the cake for me as well as the physical activity of walking the hills. I’m kind of sick about things like that.
In fact we discovered a Park Service Trail just down the road from the campus and right behind a new favorite place to eat, called “Carbon Canyon Trail.” I am making it a goal to do that hike next year.
And this year was a special treat seeing Joshua graduate from APU. As I watched this tall young man walk toward the stadium in his cap and gown, I couldn’t help but remember him as a 3 year old young boy attempting to mimic a song leader leading a church in worship. How time does fly.
I thank God for the last 14 years of having the opportunity to re-connect with the England Family, a family that I consider my family.