"My Dear Friends:

What a great pleasure it is to greet you on this occasion. I only wish I could be there personally, but of course this isn't possible.

I would have welcomed the opportunity to be a member of such an illustrious group as yours. However, your institution was not yet established at the time I was looking around for a place to study. I'm sure it would have been just what I wanted and needed, had it been available then.

But, be that as it may, I certainly have no regrets. About my Alma Mater, I mean. It was an amazing place. Well, not place so much. Perhaps a better word for it would be experience. I know I'll never be the same.

Class of '33. That was the one. There were twelve of us. A somewhat unlikely group to begin with. We certainly had our ups and downs. Had it not been for a very stable administration, we would have never made it. You've undoubtedly heard of several of my classmates. Peter, James, Matthew, Andrew, John, Philip, Nathanial, another James, Judas Iscariot, Judas brother of James, and Simon. Although, judged by many the most likely not to succeed, they did, for the most part, distinguish themselves, and brought honor to our school.

Academically, the entrance requirements were ridiculous, but apparently, a lot was based on a personal interview and invitation by the Director of Admission and Records. Once in, it was a demanding program. There were no snap courses. We really worked for everything we got. And we made it through...except for one. I finally graduated, although I must admit I had my doubts there for awhile.

Our facilities were poor. You might say primitive. We had none of the seemingly necessary equipment and aids that you are so accustomed to in your modern educational system. Now don't misunderstand me, I'm not knocking improvement and progress, I'm just trying to tell you what it was like. We had no campus, no building, no funds, no grants, no boards, no committies, no credentials. But we did have one thing. A teacher, in fact, THE TEACHER. He was key to it all, the indispensable factor.

He was usually unassuming, yet always authority. Practical yet idealistic. Respecting tradition, yet unabound. Honoring the law, yet insisting there be some life and love in it. His central theme was simply, "If you would know the truth, know Me, for I am that. The Way. The Truth. The Life." And there was no trace of egotism. He was right. He was Truth.

I know I get a little carried away when I recall His skill as a teacher. He was a Master. He stayed close to His class. He knew them intimately and individually. He captured and held their attention with relevant material and imaginative presentation. He emphasized profound concepts, not superficial detail. He made demanding assignments. He gave comprehensive examinations. He inspired curiosity and stimulated research. He kept His lectures short. He encouraged discussion. He welcomed questions and dealt honestly with them. He spoke familiar language. He made the lessons apply to life. He used visual aids, like mustard seeds, millstones, field lillies, and fowls of the air.

Often, when we were slow to understand, He would illustrate with a simple story. I think you call them parables, or something like that. Anyway, I remember once in Fundamentals of Sociology, we were involved in a conceptual analysis of certain social phenomena and human behavior, a structural and fundamental study of social relations, institutions, process and change as they are determined by variables of personality and culture. Well, we got bogged down. Then someone asked the question, "Who is my neighbor anyway?" He replied, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves..." He was way laid, beaten, robbed and left in a ditch to die. Some, who should have helped him, acted as if they didn't see him. (So you see this non involvement issue is not new with you.) Finally a good man, a Samaritan came along. Took a chance. Delayed his trip. Administered aid. Helped the man to a place where he could receive proper care. On his way out, he left a deposit on the expenses and arranged to cover the balance when it was due. By then, we in the class knew the answer to our question was... "You neighbor is anyone, anywhere who needs you."

And once in our Economics and Business Administration section, He told us about a successful farmer. His crops had been good. His income high. He had managed things well, but apparently got so wrapped up in his earthly accounting system that he neglected the final one. God interrupted his barn building business with one sentence. "This night thy soul shall be required of thee." That's not much notice, so keep your values straight. Look to rust proof treasures, was the lesson for the day.

Another time in Adolescent Psychology he told about an impatient boy who made some pretty unreasonable demands, got what he thought he wanted and took off. Well, it didn't work out. Later, on his father's mercy he discovered how forgetful love can be.

He was a master in the Communicative Arts. Although there were times when we did not understand, the fault was with us, not Him. He was concerned with soundness. He was interested in the whole program.

On Loyalty He said, "One God, no more."

On Motivation He said, "His Kingdom first, seek it."

On Commitment He said, "Body, Soul, Mind, and Strength. That's all."

On Criticism He said, "Seven times? Or seventy times that? Forgiveness that draws a line is not forgiveness."

On Pretentiousness He said, "Enter, as little children do."

On Social Adjustment He said, "Don't plan to fit in too comfortably. You don't belong to this world anymore."

On Prayer He said, "Decide which you want, publicity or grace, pray accordingly."

On Faith He said, "Ask."

On Heaven He said, "I'll have it ready."

You have never seen anything like our sessions on Anatomy and the Science of Healing. There wasn't much talk about vaccines and transplants, but it's no wonder that some of the officials in the universities were troubled. This really put the heat on the directors of their schools of medicine. In fact it was a little embarrassing at times. Actually, this probably was one of the main things that made the Master quite unpopular with some people.

One thing I noticed about His "lab work" with the sick was that He never seemed to be trying to prove anything or teach anything necessarily. He was very attentive to those who were brought to him. Even in the most pressing crowds, He didn't disappoint even one who reached out for Him. He cleansed the leper. Steadied the palsied. Why, I even saw Him make blind men see, deaf men hear, dumb men speak, and dead men live.

Some things happened that never will be explained by any classroom theories. I never will forget the words of one former blind man, who, when critics went after Him, simply said, "I was blind, now I see."

Now these tremendous events drew big crowds. All kinds of people came. For all kinds of reasons.

Some, of course, were happy. But some were unhappy, really unhappy. They couldn't get Him out of their system. So they had to get rid of Him. Once and for all. He was just too much.

I just couldn't believe it, but before they finished they had done it. They had killed the Master and closed the school. Officially.

But it was too late anyway. He would not stay dead. His truth would not stay buried. The others said they had seen Him...alive. I wanted to, but I couldn't believe it. But after eight days, He came again. This time for me. He offered me all that I had asked and more. Shamed me some, and blessed me too, as He blessed the millions, who never seeing as I had seen, believed. All I could say was, "My Lord and My God."

Very sincerely yours,
Thomas
the one whos' lingering doubts vanished in His Presence.