"Deo Fisus Labora"

Friday evening I was sitting in historic Gano Chapel on the campus of my alma mater, waiting for the honors convocation to begin. The evening sun gave a golden glow to the old stained glass. I noticed once again the college's Latin motto on the seal, "Deo Fisus Labora," or, "Trusting God, Work." I remember Dr. Kingsley explaining those words to us in a freshman orientation more than thirty years ago. I thought I knew what he was talking about on that distant Fall morning, but now I know better, much better.

"Trusting God, Work." Not a bad approach to life, is it? Work hard, doing everything you can do, and trust God for the rest. Live and labor as if everything depended on you. Love and laugh as if everything depended on God. It's life as a partnership, for we are "laborers together with God."

And so sitting in the chapel as a parent now rather than a student, I hope my son and his fellow students take note. The words on the window light the way.