Dear Valpo Friends,
As we begin this new semester today and together, I am writing you to offer a prayer request:
May God help us to believe that anything is possible. Amen.
I was inspired to offer this supplication by one of my favorite books, The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander, which reminds us that the world we experience is often shaped by how we perceive it. When we focus only on limitations, we narrow what is reachable. When we live and learn with belief and generosity, new futures open before us. The book invites us to shift our mindsets from scarcity to abundance and from fear to faith, to close the gap between what appears probable and what is actually possible.
When I feel tempted to surrender optimism and dream far too small, I am reminded of The Art of Possibility and remember those who did what others deemed to be impossible. I am inspired by Martin Luther, who defied powerful authorities and overcame personal despair, leading to a reformation that continues to alter our world. I am stirred by Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa, who established the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta and cared for multitudes of people in need. I am heartened by Johannes Kepler, who despite opposition from forceful religious and political sources, became a founder of modern science. I am moved by a long list of dreamers and believers – both renowned and unsung – who defied the odds and sparked remarkable change. When drawing strength from such a great cloud of witnesses, I feel encouraged to push past all that hinders my thinking and affirm that with God all things are indeed possible.
As a community of learning dedicated to excellence and grounded in the Lutheran tradition of scholarship, freedom, and faith, we at Valparaiso University are people of possibility, for we are uniquely formed to push past what others believe is unattainable. The history of our campus is filled with people who believed that, because God’s love is abundant and freeing, all are called upon to embody humble openness and bold invention. Today we are blessed with dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters, and friends who receive energy from our historic roots while reaching toward the next generation, all of which provides a distinctive and dynamic setting for us all to learn for life, serve our world, and shine God’s light. To embrace our shared and significant purpose of preparing students to lead in both church and society, we are not bound by what others deem to be unfeasible; we at Valparaiso University dare to believe that – by God’s unbounded grace – we have absolutely nothing to fear and everything to receive.
I figure each person reading this message has experienced moments of uncertainty and insecurity, and I presume you all – at one time or another – have wondered if you could reach your dreams. Perhaps you were told you were too young, too old, too big, or too small. Perhaps you were told that your ideas were unworkable, your aspirations were insufferable, and your flaws were plentiful. Perhaps your life has included genuine hurt and pain, and you are understandably cautious about how to persist. Perhaps you were told you were not smart enough or strong enough, or perhaps you were told you did not look the right way, sound the right way, or behave the right way. Perhaps you were told to settle for life as it is, rather than seek out what your life ought to be. For all of you who have also been tempted to surrender optimism and dream far too small, my prayer for you is the prayer that I also ask for you to pray for me:
May God help us to believe that anything is possible. Amen.
To all my new friends, as we begin our semester today and together, please know that I believe in you and I believe in us, as I fully believe that God is already working wonders in us and through us. As we embrace this uplifting momentum that is now building around us, through our shared and significant belief in each other, I know we can turn this moment of opportunity into a movement of possibility.
May God bless you, this special day and always.
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The Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D.
President, Valparaiso University
