Graduation!

After squeezing a three-tear degree into eight, I am proud to say that on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010, I received my Master of Divinity degree from Florida Center for Theological Studies. I wasn't expecting it to be, but it was actually a very moving experience, mostly because I was joined by a couple of dozen of my friends and co-ministers from my church who came down to Miami on a bus.

One of the speakers was Dr. Miguel H. Diaz, the current U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. That was pretty cool.

The other speaker was Daniel O. Aleshire who is the executive director of the Association of Theological Schools. He shared a simple, folksy message based on the life of his father-in-law, Dr. Herbert Gabhart who had recently passed away. Dr. Gabhart had been the president and, later, chancellor of a small Christian university, Belmont University. I found the three lessons he shared valuable:

1. Be grateful. Always thank those who have helped you along. Dr. Gabhart showed as much gratitude for the small gifts as the large.

2. Be generous. Dr. Gabhart was frugal but not miserly. He did a lot with a little. He took as much joy in not spending money as others take in spending it. However, before he died, he was able to donate back to the school every penny they had paid him in salary over his several decade career there. That is awesome!

3. Be persistent. One New Year's Day, the main building of Belmont College was destroyed in the fire. At the end of what must have been a heart-breaking day for the college president. He emerged from his charred office with a sketch of a new building and enough money pledged to begin its construction. Every collegue and friend who called to offer their condolences was asked to contribute to its rebuilding.

There are many theories and lifts of what is required of great leadership. But for me, now, these three seem like a great place to start.