Biology and II Timothy 2
I just got back from the Great Hall a little while ago.. it’s a beautiful day outside, and even more so that I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after all the exams and papers the last two weeks. It’s been busy. It’s been hard not to fall into the temptation of believing that God hasn’t been there for me… and it’s been harder to struggle with the temptation of just pushing God aside and trying to do things my own way. Amidst papers, exams, friends that are struggling, and an unmotivation to finish the semester strong… it’s been tough to keep persevering.
I was studying in the Biology laboratory last night from about 7:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. I walked in there and opened up the two tall cabinets that said “Taxonomy” on them… and started to go through each shelf, each tray, and each and every specimen bottle in preparation for the biology lab exam that I had this morning at 8:00 a.m.
As I opened the doors of the cabinets, a wiff of hydroxide (or whatever they use to preserve specimens) blew in my direction. I stared at all the jars for a long time… I was completely unmotivated, not to mention completely unprepared for the exam i was going to have in the next 12 hours.
I flipped through some of the pages of my lab notebook, and then picked up a few random jars and read the names on them… Amphioxus, from the subphylum Cephalocordata. I looked at the worm-shaped specimen and felt like crying (yes, you heard me…). A minute or two later, Alamo came walking in. He had been preparing for a debate in the psychology lab across the hall. He asked me how I was doing. I pointed to the cabinets without really saying anything. I explained to him the impossibility of learning all the phylum names of the hundreds of species that were sitting in front of me, not to mention be able to recognize any one of them and be able to give characteristics of them, their species name, and what phylum (or group) they belonged to.
Alamo picked up a few of the bottles, and just said, “Well, break it down, man. Take it one tray at a time. Start right here and do this phylum… look at the specimens, read the notes, and memorize it. Take it one step at a time.” I kind of looked at him and was thinking, “You have no idea.” Then he asked me if I wanted to pray before I started, and before he finished his debate. I kind of shrugged my shoulders and nodded… not really wanting to, just wanting to somehow get focused for the exam I was going to have in 12 hours.
He could tell I wasn’t overly excited about the possibility of sitting down and asking God for strength, encouragement, and motivation to do what was ahead of both of us. But he told me to sit down anyway, and he would offer up a quick prayer for both of us. I sat down and listened while Alamo asked God for the motivation to keep going, the strength to stay awake and alert, and the humility to honor God in everything we do.
I kind of smiled and thanked him for praying.. and as he was walking out of the lab, he looked at the clock and jokingly said, “I’ll be back in here in an hour to quiz you on these species. You better know them by then.” I laughed and pulled down the first tray…
Four hours later, I was wrapping it up… I had gone through each phylum and each of the many specimen jars and had given my best attempt at memorizing them. As I was about to leave, Justin walked in. He asked me how I was doing, and then slipped a piece of paper into my jacket pocket. As he walked out, I pulled out the piece of paper and read the verse II Timothy 2:1-3 … “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
It couldn’t have come at a better time. I smiled and thought back to the last four hours. Four hours ago, I had come into the biology lab feeling completely unmotivated and discouraged at where life seemed to be going. In that time, God had sent two of my close brothers to encourage me, pray with me, and point me back to the Bible. Thank you, God.
Thank you for your daily reminders of your presence in all situations and in all things.
Published on 20 Mar 2007 at 12:33 pm.
3 Comments.
Filed under Academics, Thoughts.
good to have friends that keep pursuing you, isnt it? how much better is it that we serve a God who pursues us…
Olivia on 20 Mar 2007 at 1:54 pm.
hm… they’re good guys :) It’s so great being surrounded by friends who encourage us.
Jess G. on 23 Mar 2007 at 5:58 pm.
Whoah thats amazing. At times I wish people at Wheaton were like that. But God has us all at a specific college for a reason I guess.
Paul on 27 Mar 2007 at 12:46 am.