9/16/2005 09:08:00 AM|||Joel VandenBrink|||


My wife, the beautiful Brooke VandenBrink, is a Ph.D student in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Washington. This past spring her first year drew to a close, upon completion it is tradition, and required, that each student picks who their advisor is going to be for their tenure in the program. Brooke had gone through three rotations and choose the individual that she thought would be the most able to grow her into the chemist she wants to be -- but alas, someone else had picked this individual and she was told that there was no more room in his lab. Option 2, Plan 2, the back-up -- she didn't have one. After much thought, consideration, prayer, and conversation she decided to join the lab of another individual. This individual had two students in his lab, both male and both had been there for quite a while -- eight years to be exact. Brooke immediately connected with this professor and there were days where they would spend a couple hours in conversation -- ranging from chemistry, to where her and I were going hiking, to her career plans, to her approach to chemistry. These conversations would engage them both, and both would walk away from them knowing new thoughts.

Today marks the end of a rotation (a trial period for a semester) of a new student. This student, Kelse, has been working with Brooke and this professor in lab for the summer and is now set to rotate into another lab.

Yesterday, This professor left lab meeting early to make it to the start of his eight year old daughters soccer game. Today, he is taking his entire lab out to lunch to honor Kelse on her last day. Tomorrow, he and his wife are hosting a BBQ for the students and their families that are in his lab. This is where this story turns from narrating the facts, to a beautiful transforming moment. This professor, in at least the last eight years, has never taken students out to lunch. This professor, in at least eight years, has never had students over to his house for a BBQ. This professor, in the three years of his daughter playing soccer, has never made it to every game -- except for this year.

What does it mean to love those around you well? I believe that this story, and my wife, give us a glimmer of what this may mean.

Blessing. Glory. Honor.
joel
|||112688876495600051|||Chemistry and Transformation