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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