America still exists, I saw it

This past weekend was graduation day for many colleges and universities across the country. Chris and I traveled to Ashland, Ohio for our son's graduation from Ashland University--a former Christian college. The festivities for us started late Monday afternoon when we watched our son Christian defend his 80 page thesis about the unique greatness, and republican virtue of George Washington. Aside from attending Ashland on a football scholarship, he was also a four year academic scholar of the prestigious Ashbrook Center, which "seeks to restore and strengthen the capacities of the American people for constitutional self-government." This experience restored my faith that America still exists. I saw it.

His defense lasted an hour and a half. Professors were extremely engaged. Students in attendance were also engaged, asking tough questions and making significant points about self-government, the role of natural rights given by the Creator, and how Washington uniquely placed the public interest above his self interests to ensure a nation of the people, by the people and for the people. There was deep understanding and enthusiasm for the Founders' vision of government. These professors and their scholar students knew the America of the Founders, understood the challenges of today's America, and have good thought and direction on the future.

Friday night, there was a gathering of the Ashbrook scholars. They were introduced one by one, each giving a summary of their thesis, what they were going to do in the future, and we were told something about them. These are some 30 young people that can make a difference for God and Country. Their thesis is the "culmination of their entire undergraduate education and an expression of what they are capable of intellectually." These young people are intelligent, informed and prepared. The Ashbrook Center annually chooses the recipient of the Charles Parton Award for Outstanding Thesis. This year, the Director and Faculty chose three, my son's among them. 

The next day was graduation. It began with the choir singing "My soul is anchored in the Lord." There were prayers, ending "In the name of Jesus, Amen." The speaker spoke about the challenges of today's youth, about Christian principles of good government. The two valedictorians were home schooled by Christian families. The President of the University sincerely included Christ in his remarks to the graduates. Scripture was quoted. Blessings were given. It was a slice of America that I had thought was lost, but it is found in this rural agricultural setting in central Ohio. It is a reminder of Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." There is a remnant. It has a heartbeat. Be encouraged. All is not lost.