Where The Spirit of The Lord is there is Liberty

Imagine being in a place where you are surrounded by 18 to 24 year olds. I know that to some of you this sounds like you are in hell, but hang with me for a minute. These kids (they look like kids to me) are all polite, helpful and engaged in accomplishing whatever purpose to which they were committed.

I was in this place for about 60 hours. I never heard a foul word (really, strange but true). I was bumped into several times, each bumper without fail politely said, “Excuse me.” The girl that backed into my car left a note of apology with all her contact information, insurance information and her parents phone number. There was some physical contact between couples, not a lot, and I never had to look away wishing the couple would just get a room out of public view.

My daughter, her friends, and I attended a sold out concert with general admission seating. The door opened late, and again…..polite, slightly anxious young people waited in line, no cursing, no swearing, no pushing, no threats of violence. Really weird.

We went to convocation, chapel to the older crowd. Attendance is mandatory: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. These kids have been going to convocation since August. Three times a week, mandatory. I was amazed. They acted as if they wanted to be there. They sang the worship songs as if they meant what they were singing. They actually listened to the speaker, cheering when he took the stage and cheering during his talk.

There is a sense of striving for excellence communicated from the dean, and from the professors, directly to the kids.

Imagine, this is a college campus and you daughter was going to be attending there next fall. I didn’t want her to go to this college. It is a “Christian University” and I though my creative, smart, hard working daughter would be stifled in such an environment.

I was wrong.

The university was well named. It is Liberty University, and it is in Lynchburg, Virginia .

Dorms open for incoming freshman August 13, 2008. My daughter can’t wait to go. For her sake, I can't wait either.

Comments

[Regina]

Wow - what a positive college experience [not like my first!] I hope it works out! Regina

[Carol Taber]

It was weird in really nice way!