Deadlines of life
My life has been full of deadlines. Some of them have been of great importance in shaping my life. Others not so much. Some of them have impacted my ministry and its performance while others have been instrumental in the development of my character. Some of them I have met positively whereas others I faced negatively. I was halfway through my seminary studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in early September of 1961 when our first daughter Laura was born on a Sunday morning. She arrived two weeks before her due date. I often say she chose when she would put in her appearance without checking our schedule. Later in life we would learn firsthand of her strong will. Today I thank God for it as she ministers to my needs in my declining years. A new term of classes would begin on the following Tuesday morning. I was pressed for time as I struggled with a full-time job, a class load of studies, and a young wife who had struggled with her pregnancy and was now dealing with a new baby while many miles away from any of our families. That afternoon I sat with her at the hospital until the evening before returning to our apartment for a few hours rest. Early Monday I returned to Effie’s side for a few hours before reporting to my night job at Whitney National Bank. It was a long night and after only an hour or two of sleep, I reported to my first class of the day at 8 am. It was a class in philosophy (never one of my strengths) taught by a young professor new to the faculty who was trying to make a name for himself (my biased opinion). After introducing himself and telling of his expectations for the class he assigned a major composition to be handed in on Friday morning. It would count for half of our grade for the term. I groaned inside for I knew that was a deadline I could not meet. I would be in other classes until early that afternoon. Then I would try to sleep an hour or two before going back to the hospital on my way to work. I could not see any way I could finish the project on time. On Friday, when I tried to explain why I had not been able to finish the assignment, I had hoped for mercy but what I received was a lecture on letting other things interfere with class assignments. Needless to say, I received an “F” in the class. But I had the final word. His grade did not keep me from graduating with my class. After all these years I don’t even remember the professor’s name or any of his boring lectures. His assigned deadline had little effect upon my life in the grand scheme of things. But there is one deadline set for us we all must face with eternal consequences. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
