Today was one of those days where the heat blast from opening your car door gives you goosebumps. Yes, Nashville was nothing short of a smoldering inferno, but that didn’t stop our brave group of Summer Scholars from making their way to the Parthenon for an afternoon of frisbee that fell nothing short of monumental.
I was the first on the scene, arriving at around 2:15pm. Under the white skies of Nashville, one could not help but notice the ominous rainclouds rolling in. We had previously worried that our scholars might succumb to heat stroke, considering the heat index was at 111, but God had other plans in mind. As I took my first steps in Centennial Park, the bottom dropped out, releasing a mighty torrential downfall of soothing rain. The golf ball sized droplets quickly cooled the park, drenching everything in their path. I took shelter beneath the sturdy doric columns of the Parthenon and watched God make it rain. I remember chuckling happily to myself, saying in my internal monologue “What can’t my God do?”
I quickly had an encounter with a group of students from Arizona who were in town for a business seminar conference. The asked if I would mind taking their picture in front of the Parthenon, so with my grandest display of Southern hospitality, I obliged. 8 cameras and 9 photographs later, I had charmed the group. They were sure to take a group picture with me as well so that they would never forget our moment together. I concluded with a quick history lesson on Greek architecture, then my summer scholars and fellow LU workers showed up. It was frisbee time.
The downpour continued as we took the field, completely saturating the group within a matter of minutes. We jumped, slipped, slid, and rejoiced in the cooling rain for the next twenty minutes. This is when everything changed.
All of a sudden the rain was gone, taking the shade giving clouds away with a mighty gust of wind. Yes, everything had changed. Now it was a showdown with el sol as the heat began to escalate, raising the humidity along with it. Before the next battle charge of team Elephant Graveyard (my team, who played for keeps), we could hardly breath. We could practically see the water vapor rising from the ground. It felt like I was running underwater. Every breath felt like a quaff of vapor, but we endured.
We continued in this fashion for the next hour or so, running, sweating, and selling out for the big catch. You know, the traits that synthesize a game of frisbee into something along the caliber of ULTIMATE. At one point, I had to drop a Street Fighter reference, comparing myself to Dhalsim for my long stretching defensive moves. (Oh, and I think I breathed fire at one point, combusting my defender. I can’t be sure, but it was scorching hot either way.) My team appreciated the reference, so we gave a triumphant elephant roar (pucker your lips and exhale through your mouth as hard as you can, you’ll see what I mean) before trampling our way to victory.
After a brutal afternoon on the field, we all awalked away with our heads held high. Mostly in disbelief that it was so hot and humid outside. This was a great day to meet some future Lipscomb students and teach them a bit about college’s staple sport. We wrapped up the afternoon at Sweet Cece’s in Hillsboro Village where I discovered a frozen yogurt combination worthy of an accolade. Homemade vanilla, topped with Fruity Pebbles, coconut shavings, and yogurt ships. I sprinkled on a few blue berries for the sake of aesthetics, and I was good to go. Trust me, it’s worth your while.
On a closing note, I’ve been so thankful to spend time with my friends at Lipscomb Admissions as well as future students. Admissions has been my home for the last two and a half years, and I’ve felt an emptiness without it since graduation. It is a true joy and blessing to have these people in my life, and I’m thankful for every moment I get to spend with them. I also miss meeting incoming students and sharing what little bits of knowledge I can. I met a young lady today by chance who is passionate about film, but was having doubts about continuing her education in the art in fear of the job market. We sat down and talked for about two hours today to eat lunch and watch a few online videos I had made. We discussed the art, movies that inspire us, what schools we were looking at, and what we’d like to do someday. I also gave her some insight on how to make herself more marketable as a filmmaker. For example, if you major in communication, then pick up a minor in something that expands your marketability - say through business or education (anything to make you well rounded and get your feet into different doors). I believe my strongest point orbited around the notion that film is a beautiful, creative art. Even if you wind up primarily doing a job that has nothing to do with film, you can still practice the art actively on the side through freelance projects or independent filmmaking, both of which are wonderful, and potentially lucrative, hobbies. After two hours of great conversation, I believe I had eased her fears and inspired her to chase her filmmaking dreams. She told me she couldn’t wait to go home and tell her mom what we had shared.
It’s in moments like these I really see God at work. A few weeks ago I was having dinner with a few friends when one asked me “What do you think your spiritual gift is?” Without hesitation I responded that my gift is all about people. I love meeting with new people, connecting, and sharing experiences. That’s why I loved my job through Lipscomb Admissions, it may have been the best/highest paying job on campus, but I was also able to use my spiritual gift in an every day professional environment. Through my film work, I’m also meeting new people and sharing, which makes me very optimistic about my future.
Wherever I wind up down the road, I know that I’m going to use my connective gift in every way possible.
Yes, I can safely say that today was monumental.
