Every morning when David Scholer gets up he wishes that he could have just one more normal day to live.But life for the 68-year old New Testament professor is by no means normal. The colorectal cancer he was diagnosed with five years ago has spread to both lungs, and he has asthma, diabetes and arthritis besides.
Despite these maladies and the effects of chemotherapy, he continues to teach at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, where he is one of the most popular professors. Students say that he tells them that a sign of maturity is the ability to live with ambiguity. Known for his inclusiveness, he also tells them:
"You have no right to oppose women in ministry until you have made a friend who is called to ministry and you've listened to her story. You have no right to make a statement about homosexuality until you have made friends with a Christian homosexual person. The conclusion you draw is another issue."
Through it all, he continues to ponder the meaning of the apostle Paul's statement in 1 Thessalonians: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances." - especially the last part. (Los Angeles Times, June 5)
This man shames me. He should. Indeed, he probably should shame many of us.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, Kenneth, I don't think this man cares about shame at all. He simply lives his life, one day at a time. He has much to teach us just by his life and his living.
ReplyDelete"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with everything Paul says, but I love the his words that David Scholer lives by. I've read about him elsewhere. He's quite a man, a true man of God.