Gail Benchener’s Blog

The SIFE team celebrates Christmas at my home.

Posted by Gail Benchener at 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Receiving the Faculty of the Year Award was not only an honor but quite a surprise. As the President was reading the qualities of the recipient, my first thought was "Oh, that doesn't sound like the person I nominated." When he mentioned SIFE and I realized it was me, I was truly humbled. Without the tremendous effort of my students who tirelessly work to complete community service projects with excellence, my work would largely go unnoticed. I celebrate this award with them, especially those recent graduates in the School of Business and Leadership who have encouraged me to grow and develop as a faculty member and advisor and who challenged me every day with their work ethic, spiritual maturity and discernment as we served others.

Posted by Gail Benchener at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Final exams are next week. My students are stressed, mostly tired, and working hard to complete papers by the deadline. Several commented today that their plans to study over the Thanksgiving break were derailed and now there is some catch up to do. They are self-absorbed just like students at the end of every semester. I like to share this story with them:

During my first year at PBU, St. John, a campus maintenance worker originally from South Africa, came in to my office during final exams to empty my trash. I was busy at my computer, mumbled a thank you, but did not interrupt my task. After all, I was BUSY. He paused at my desk and asked very politely if we had met before. I saw that his shirt said " St. John" which confused me at first as it is not exactly an everyday American name. I turned to him abruptly and, somewhat embarrassed, introduced myself. After we exchanged some pleasantries, he proceeded to tell me he had been a pastor, but a stroke had taken away his ability to remember a lot, so he had to leave the ministry. He asked God to give him any job in which he could serve. That job was emptying trash at PBU. Emptying trash. A pastor.

After that day, I ran into St. John regularly every afternoon on his route through our offices. Positive and energetic, he accomplished his tasks with a servant's heart and we spoke often. After talking with St. John, my spirit was always lifted.

Later, another stroke eventually took that job away from him.

Now when I am stressed, I look outside myself and realize it is not all about me, my work, my tasks, and my priorities. When students start complaining about the frenetic pace at the end of the semester, I ask them to pray for those campus workers who make it possible for them to attend a university that runs smoothly. Who have they walked by, taken for granted, or ignored with heads low, shuffling off to class?

What blessings they have missed!

Posted by Gail Benchener at 9:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)