New York UniversityYou did not choose Me but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
John 15:16
"Hey, you want to come to a Barbeque?" asked my dearest of friends, Ashley. It was the end of the academic year, 2005. We were merely Freshman. University of Vermont was my station. My answer to her question ended up running something like, "The Landon shall mostly surely attend yon tasty BBQs!" And so, nought but three days later, I stood at the helm of a grill.
I was in Charlotte, Vermont. Numbers were being called for food. "Alpha-7," I heard; up came its bearer. We delivered the goods; they were satisfied. Or, perhaps, as they might say, "Beyond satisfied." And so was I. Never before had I encountered such dedicated camaraderie, such sassy humour, such sincere love. This... was a Navigators year end BBQ, and I was ensnared.
Now, if somebody asks me, College, what'd you get from it?" I respond with two words: "Ben. Courtemanche." I must. He's been the biggest blessing to my life throughout these past college years. He was my mentor, my friend, my brother. And he still is. He poured what he had in his life into mine. And now the opportunity is mine. At this point in my life, I want nothing more than to follow thru' with this. Nothing more.
New York University shall be my new realm of life. The students that I meet shall be unto me as I was unto Ben, and hopefully, just hopefully, I'll be able to kindle some juicy thoughts in their minds and a little admiration for Jesus in their hearts. I believe God made me for strangers, friends, people. He made us all for this in themes and variations.
I look forward to investing in students as our dear Papa above has invested in me, you, all of us. It's the least I could do. Truly.
