“Chosen”
I had been told that I was one of three
whose name was given to the President
from whom she would choose the new Chapel Dean.
While waiting, I went to a grand event
in the huge gothic Chapel I might rule.
A bird flew in while the Bible was read,
and I was shown to be a prideful fool when
pigeon poop fell SPLAT upon my head…-Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL
Editor’s Note: This really happened. The windows of the grand Gothic Chapel were open when the bird of paradise flew in.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2) BTW, Steve did not get to rule the Chapel. The President appointed one of the three who had not been anointed by the pigeon.
Views from the Edge 
Given there is no biological difference between a pigeon and a dove, I think this is pretty much what was going in Matthew 3:16. “As he came out of the water, the heavens opened and a pigeon landed on him.” So Steve should take comfort from this, even if he is not appointed.
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David, the pigeon/dove is a distant memory now, so he can look back at it and laugh more easily, although, knowing Steve, I’m sure he saw the humor in it when it happened. I’m not sure he made the baptism connection! :-)Thanks, David, for the humor.
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I would like to think that this was a sign that he should be chosen, Gordon. An anointing, as it were.
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Dennis – Yes. But, as we all know, there’s a huge difference between anointings and appointings. Only one is humbling. 🙂
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Anointings and appointings. I love the distinction, my friend.
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Thanks, Dennis. Consider yourself one of the anointed, but don’t take it too seriously, especially if you’ve been appointed.
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Gordon, when this happen some of us were meeting semi-annually as the Reformed Roundtable. We interret tis as a positive annointing. It turned out to be so, just not the result we thought. When I think of what Steve accomplished Director of the Y I rejoice. Steve is such an effective srevant of our Lord. BUT we still laughed. A LOT!
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Jim, He would have been a great Dean of Chapel or Academic Dean, for that matter. He has all the qualifications, but I do believe he likely would have been miserable away from where the action is, as it was in Campus Y, the center for student activism at the U of I. Laughter is in order!
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