Flat Stanley and Dr. J

Flat Stanley and Me on Graduation Day!

A couple of months ago, I finished my formal education graduating with my doctorate from Liberty University, a degree I had pursued for 32 years. (In fact, dreams of getting a doctorate filled my little 4 year old mind as I watched my dad graduate with his own  doctorate degree from Westminister Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.) Have you ever pursued something for a long time? It can become an overmastering passion. This is why my favourite picture from that day is me in my doctoral robes and Flat Stanley! Who is Flat Stanley you may ask?  Stanley used to be a rotund little boy until a bookcase fell on him (at least that  is what Josiah, my 8 year old son, related to me from a story he read in his class.) Subsequently, Flat Stanley showed up in some of our family pictures in different locations in order to fill the requirements of a Grade 2 school project. Why do I love Flat Stanley? He reminds me that books and knowledge puff us up and they can also crush us spiritually. Isn’t that what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8:1, “KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP, BUT LOVE BUILDS UP!” Flat Stanley reminds me that what is needed to really build me up is love – God’s love! This was demonstrated through Christ who knew everything but chose to lay aside His  full knowledge of all things so that He could love us to death – His own death. (Philippians 2:5-8) So the question for you and me is are we choosing to be puffed up or built up? Choosing knowledge will end up crushing you. Choosing instead to love will build you and others up for all eternity!