Have you ever heard of the “protégé effect”? It refers to the psychological phenomenon that is intrinsic to the human condition and that we have all likely experienced at some point on our educational journeys. It was summed up pithily over 2000 years ago by the Roman philosopher Seneca: “When we teach, we learn.” It is an adage that has been around for centuries. Beginning in the 1980s, researchers have actually conducted various experiments that have provided empirical data in strong...

I am writing this letter just a few days after our Eucharist at the lake. This annual event is always such a joy. Admittedly, it is a lot of work for all those who make it happen, with challenging logistics, but it is always worth it! It is a powerful experiential reminder that the Church (from the Greek “ekklesia” meaning gathering or assembly) is first and foremost a community of people that gathers. We gather to worship, to give thanks to God, to pray with and for one another, to sing,...

The month of May is always a time of transition in my world. It is that time when the college students are finishing up an academic year and preparing to head off for summer activities, or in the case of the seniors, the next phase of their lives. It is a bittersweet time that culminates in Davidson’s Commencement, which I will be attending on May 17th. The graduating seniors are brimming with all kinds of emotions. They are celebrating all that they have accomplished in their time at...