Friday Blog

Irreplaceable?

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Innovation Studio sign and open door

This morning I had several people stop by the Innovation Studio to inquire about completing various projects. Most had become aware that with the school year wrapping up I would be working on tying up loose ends in preparation for our move to Tennessee. A couple of them commented to me "what is the University going to do when you are not here to run this place and do these projects?" Since I have been very intimately involved in the development and implementation of the Innovation Studio over the past three years that question, in one form or another, has been lingering in the back of my mind. I have a passion for this place and the possibility of it closing weighed heavily on my mind when I made the decision to move back to the Collegedale, Tennessee area a few weeks ago.

When I came to Texas in 2021 the Business department at Southwestern Adventist University had just completed a five year strategic plan that included developing an entrepreneurship center/maker space by the end of year three. That space became a reality in October 2023. With my decision to leave SWAU the business department faculty and academic administration scrambled to find a solution that would provide a knowledgeable person to continue providing access for students to the Innovation Studio. Unfortunately it was more difficult than we thought to find someone with the right combination of skill sets to be able to operate the equipment, oversee the business operations, and teach Marketing and Management classes. The possibility of having to close the Studio down due to the inability to find a qualified director was coming closer and closer to reality. It is real easy in situations like this to begin to believe that you are irreplaceable - no one can do this job except me. This past week we received an inquiry from someone interested in teaching but also having an interest in the Innovation Studio. After meeting with them, sharing our vision, and listening to their passion it appears we may have found someone who possess the vast majority of the desired skill sets. Just when we thought there was no solution, God provided someone who appears to be able to meet the need.

In 1 Kings 19 Elijah has just completed the dramatic confrontation on Mt. Carmel. The 3 1/2 year drought has ended and Jezebel, furious that Elijah destroyed the prophets and priests of Baal, sets a bounty on Elijah's head. In fear for his life he flees over 100 miles into the desert before collapsing under a juniper tree. After being fed by an angel he travels another 40 days to Mt Horeb where he now has a confrontation with God. In verse 9 God asks Elijah a very direct question, "What are you doing here?" Elijah's answer was equally as direct, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." His message is "the King hates me and wants me dead, no one is following You except me, and there is no one to take my place when I am gone." He seemed to be declaring "I am irreplaceable and now my enemies what me dead!" After experiencing a tornado, earthquake, and brush fire Elijah hears God's voice in a gentle breeze. God was declaring to Elijah that He was not in the chaos, but He was in the peaceful breeze. God asks again "What are you doing here?" and while Elijah's words are the same his attitude seems to have changed. God's answer to Elijah was simple, "I have a new king (Jehu), your replacement is Elisha, and there are 7,000 who follow me and have not bowed down to Baal."

In John 21 after Jesus has fed the disciples following His resurrection he takes a walk with Peter along the beach. After Jesus describes to Peter the type of death he would die Peter sees John following behind and asks, "What about him?" Jesus responds by declaring "don't worry about him, you follow me." (verses 20-22)

Too often like Elijah we worry that we are the only ones who can do a certain job, and like Peter we worry that we may have it harder than someone else. I was reminded this week that God has it covered, He doesn't need me to worry about. What He is asking me to do is follow Him.

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