&From the pulpit&

Russ Waldrop / News Virginian
Published: November 2, 2007

This Dorm Manager always encouraged students to unpack their suitcases onto their beds during this orientation, thinking that the items in their suitcases might indicate the kind of character they would display in coming semesters. He believed that students who had packed their Bibles were more responsible than those who did not.

Sure enough, somewhere between his instructions on where to find the fire extinguisher and the laundry detergent, the two freshmen laid their suitcases on their beds. As the Dorm Manager became more personal and casual with them, they felt comfortable enough to open them up as they talked. What do you suppose was there that might indicate the kind of persons they were-

When the first freshman opened up his bulky suitcase, the Dorm Manager was pleased to see a Bible on top of everything else. "Well," he thought. "Maybe I won't have any trouble with him since his Bible was the first thing I saw."

What about the contents of the other student's suitcase-

When the second student opened up his equally bulky suitcase, the Dorm Manager saw numerous items - a grooming kit, a tennis racket, two sports magazines, shoes, pants, shirts and, well - no Bible. But wait. What's that- The student was pouring something out of his suitcase. Yep, there it was, underneath everything else, the very last thing. And the Dorm Manager thought, "Well, at least his Bible was in there somewhere, but why had he kept it hidden. I'd better keep an eye on him." And he did.

Now, during that first semester of college, can you guess which student got the Dorm Manager's blessing and trust and which one he viewed with suspicion- Yes, the one whose Bible was right on top of his suitcase was given the benefit of any doubt, while the one whose Bible was down in the bottom never found his way into the Dorm Manager's good graces.

However, this Dorm Manager's "test of character" was completely flawed. Do you know why- Well, the student whose Bible was on the very top would have placed it into the suitcase last, not exactly signaling his first priority, and maybe even an afterthought. The student whose Bible was on the bottom of his suitcase would have placed it there first, maybe indicating his highest priority among all things to take to college.

The Dorm Manager had his own preconceived interpretation of what it meant to find, or not find, a Bible in someone's suitcase. It was a character test. Numerous other interpretations could be made, none necessarily positive or negative. And we don't know where he placed his Bible when traveling, or if he carried one at all; only that he had a mistaken judgment of what it meant for other people.

We could make judgments today about people who carry, or don't carry, their Bibles around with them. Those who do may still be reading it for the first time and those who don't may already be experts on it.

It is unwise to make these kinds of judgments about people and their Bibles. We can only know for sure why we carry, or don't carry, our own.

(Part three next week.)

The Rev. Russell G. Waldrop, D. Min., LPC, is a pastoral counselor and is chaplain of Western State Hospital. Contact him at 540-943-9918 or at: .

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