|
June-July 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel
BSA Scholarship Second Place Winner
by Heather Kemp
For years, I've known
what I'm going to do with my life. I am going to be a
psychologist, a counselor of some sort. How do I know this?
Well, during these years I have realized God has given me a gift
in that area. People I hardly know talk with me about their
problems and they usually leave the conversation feeling much
better. I these situations, I believe God really leads me,
showing how I can best serve.
To realize the goal of becoming a psychologist, I am now
attending Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. The road that got me
here is quite convoluted. I come from a three child family,
with one older brother and one younger sister. By virtue of my
position, I took the role of peacemaker early in life. I
breezed through middle school, eventually doing well enough in
class and on standardized tests to be able to skip the
8th grade. I begun attending the Alabama School of
Fine Arts, ASFA, in downtown Birmingham. It was a 45 minute
drive there and back everyday, twice a day, for four years. I
was a math/science major. Those four years of my life were
instrumental in my development as a person and a Christian. A
wonderfully close group of friends were comfortable enough with
me to have religious discussions. I learned about the beliefs
of mainstream Protestantism and became convicted of the
rightness of our approach to God. During my senior year of high
school, I was baptized.
Now that I'm at college, especially a Presbyterian college, I
face challenges to my faith daily. Part of the program here
calls for mandatory Bible classes. These classes focus more on
the Bible as a text than a doctrine, but still manage to
challenge people's faith. I've enjoyed the challenge, so much
that I'm strongly considering adding a religion minor to me
preexisting double major.
The Sabbath is a truth I firmly believe and understand. People
are not likely to ask about the Sabbath, especially if they
don't know you don't go to church on Sunday. Then the questions
begin. Many people will tell you Christ changed it, or the
apostles changed it. Most don't realize Constantine's role.
Others will tell you all of the law was destroyed by Christ's
death. These arguments are not that difficult to combat,
either. The hard thing about trying to keep the Sabbath in
college is the perception that if you take a day off, that day
is wasted.
Personally, I feel that keeping the Sabbath has allowed me to
stay sane. Man needs a day off to put it all in perspective.
Besides, the Sabbath is not a day of doing nothing. Of course,
college students will find it the perfect day to catch up on
their sleep, but there are many positive Sabbath activities.
Bible study is an important activity on this day of praise.
Many people enjoy walks on God's creation, marvelling at the
power of God, that He created in such glorious diversity.
Anything that glorifies God on His day, is a wonderful activity.
I have not found it difficult to keep the Sabbath here at
college. I hope this is true for everyone.
I plan to keep the Sabbath holy throughout my life, which will
hopefully revolve around God's way of life. My goal, to become
a servant, will be a benefit for humanity. So many people who
go into therapy need God in their lives. I would like to try to
help these individuals come to know God and accept the sacrifice
He offered. I want to use my gift to glorify the Giver and
serve my neighbor. I think I am definitely be a tool for God to
use in his work.
TSS
June - July 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel
|