Lifelong learning: the long approach home
By President Shirley H. Showalter

O brace me my groom.
Pray for calm winds.
Carry me back safely where the
snow stands deep in March. I’m going home
the old way with a light hand on the reins
Making the long approach.
—Maxine Kumin, “The Long Approach”

The gyre turns, the seasons change, the child is mother of the woman, and we end where we begin. These are the first and last lessons of a true education. Although we are surrounded by massive structures here on campus that will outlive us, buildings are only containers, and nothing on this earth is permanent. What lives is what we cannot see; we gain it as we lose it. Once we understand even a small portion of such mystery, we are near the end. And so the prophets are right: the end is near. It always has been, even at the beginning of our journey home.

Of all the groups to whom I speak, Goshen College alumni are the ones who listen to words like those and recognize them. They are too kind to tell me that they have been thinking about such mysteries much longer than I have, and I rejoice in our ability to teach each other regardless of age. For five years I have been meeting with the 50-year reunion crowd at homecoming. This year’s class included Royce Saltzman ’50, executive director of the Oregon Bach Festival, and one of the three Culture for Service Award recipients this year. He and activist/ teacher Rosemarie Freeney Harding ’55 and missionary Florence Nafziger ’45 each illustrate so well what it means to give your life away.

When alumni gather, they hear and tell many stories of pilgrimage. Some have sailed, literally, around the world, and many others have done so figuratively. They move throughout life one decision at a time. They start out in social work and end up leading an international financial services company. Or they work in business for years and then enroll at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary because they feel called to another form of ministry. We have graduates at Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and scores of other high-tech industries. We also have graduates who work in slums around the world and who start their own nonprofit organizations to help solve social problems. Majors at Goshen have not changed markedly over the years. However, careers of our graduates evolve over a lifetime.

I have always believed that if you teach students to read carefully, think clearly, write simply and elegantly, speak from the heart and mind, and listen deeply and compassionately to other people, they are prepared to do almost any kind of work. Now that I am an employer as well as a teacher, I believe even more strongly that the skills associated with a good liberal arts education have never been more valuable. These skills never go out of style no matter what happens in the rapidly changing world around us.

Recently Karen Hirschy, phonothon director in the college relations office, came to tell me the story of what happened at the phonothon. One of the student callers, Yolonda Werman (Fr., Mishawaka, Ind.), dialed an alumni household and introduced herself to a graduate of the class of 1981. “How’s it going with the calls tonight?” he asked?

“Not so well,” she admitted. “I haven’t found too many contributors so far.”

“Tell you what. I’ll match the next five givers. Call me back after you have five gifts.” The student got pledges from the next five calls and called to report her success.

“Wonderful. Keep going. I’ll match the next five also.” She hung up the phone feeling so excited she could hardly wait to dial. When she called back, she had gifts totaling $960. “Round that up to $1,060,” said the alumnus, “and consider that my pledge.”

Not only did the student make her goal, but she also told everyone around her how great it was to work at the phonothon and how great the person was on the other end of the phone. The response of this alumnus is a strong example of Culture for Service. He and his wife were both very generous and very creative in their giving. They helped the next generation to get the message that service extends not just to time and money but also to the way these tools have potential to magnify human energy and to glorify God.

My hands are a little lighter on the reins today, and I feel more ready for the long approach home.