There’s not much I can say about the college years. 2 snapshots.
1. A “C” in Bowling.
2. On graduation day when I had my diploma in hand, my father approached me and said, “Well, I wasn’t sure you’d get out of here much less do it in four years. Good job. I’m proud of you.”
Still, official records aside, I learned a lot while I was there. Here’s the takeaway for me.
I wouldn’t say that Wake Forest was the most diverse school in the country, but I still met a lot of different people while I was there. I met some who became addicted to alcohol. I met some who became addicted to Jesus. I met some who had big plans. “Nothing better than breaking the law in the name of justice.” I met some who had other plans. “I just want to graduate and marry a Sigma Chi.”
Everybody’s trying to figure out who they are. We might not all be looking for the same things. We might not all be trying to get to the same place. I’m not talking about Heaven and Hell here. I’m talking about this life, the meaning and value we find in our existence. Everyone wants to matter, and at that age we all want to matter in a big way. Some are wired for a strenuous journey. Some need help to get down what by outward appearances is a smooth path.
Patience, grace, and mercy make the trip a lot easier, though. A lot easier.
Patrick Day 
Patience, grace, and mercy make the trip a lot easier, though. A lot easier.
Lot of wisdom right there, my friend.
This one on your years at Wake Forest triggered a memory. I did not attend Wake, but many people in my family did and they often took me to events there, especially football and basketball games (I loved watching Bones McKinney’s antics at a basketball game). During the early 60s, there was a football player who was sort of a legend at Wake – Brian Piccolo; in fact if memory serves me correct, he lead the nation in rushing his senior year. Anyway, first cousin attended Wake at the time and her husband was a close friend of Brian’s at Wake. After one of the games, he introduced me to Brian and I remember thinking at the time, “Wow – this big shot hero spends time with a little nobody like me!” Anyway, the next time I met Brian after a game, he actually remembered who I was – he called me by my name, and continued to do so at every encounter afterward! At that point, he became my favorite football player and I always cheered for him when he played for the Chicago Bears, even when they played my favorite team, the Washington Redskins, and actually cried when he died in 1970. I think that what I took away from Brian is that no matter who you are, even somebody like me – a very ordinary person living a very ordinary life – you can do a small thing for somebody else that can have a big impact in that person’s life.
I’m glad you’re back on line and back in my life. Selfishly, I wish you were still at First Pres in Lake Forest. We’ve got some good people there but I still really miss you. I listened to your sermons online when I was living in Singapore and perhaps I need to check that out again. But for today, I’m glad you’re back online and back in my life.
Merry Christmas Patrick. Hugs to all the Days from all the Zeemans