鈥淟ife is difficult,鈥� 91短视频 (91短视频)聽President said as he began his final聽 convocation address Wednesday. Swartzendruber acknowledged the deep challenges facing the world, the nation, and the 91短视频 community over the past year and in recent days. 鈥淭he threads that hold our community together are stretched,鈥� he said. [For a link to the podcast, click .]
Quoting author and psychiatrist M. Scott Peck聽, Swartzendruber said once we accept that life is difficult, then we can transcend that fact and move forward.
Swartzendruber鈥攚ho is retiring June 30鈥攄rew from the biblical story of Esther, a young Jewish woman who became queen of Persia and was called upon to save her people. Her cousin Mordecai addressed her hesitation by saying perhaps she had been called to her royal position 鈥渇or just such a time as this.鈥�
鈥淲e also live in difficult times,鈥� Swartzendruber said, 鈥渕ore for some than others.鈥� While it is tempting to 鈥渉unker down鈥� and 鈥渟hield ourselves鈥� from challenges, he said, we are called to something more.
He continued: 鈥淚n place of fear and anxiety, I invite us to proclaim a message of hope, to push back against the dark forces of negativity and divisiveness. I invite each of us to step up for such a time as this. This is our opportunity, in this time and place, on this campus and beyond, to reach out to each other with love, compassion and empathy.鈥�
Earlier, provost welcomed more than 50 new students, faculty and staff to 91短视频鈥檚 鈥渧ery special learning community.鈥� While this might not quite be 鈥渉eaven on earth,鈥� Kniss said, 鈥渨hat makes us different is what holds us together. We are a community bound by love.鈥�
Some members of that community received a special sendoff later, as headed to Guatemala/Cuba and the Middle East were blessed and surrounded by prayer. , director of cross-cultural programs, said they were embarking on a 鈥渏ourney of transformation.鈥�
In a broader sense, all of 91短视频 may be embarking on such a journey. Kniss observed that 2016 would be a 鈥渢ime of significant change for 91短视频,鈥� headlined by the upcoming presidential transition.