Guest Post: The Choice was Mine… by TC Avey
While I’m away in Guatemala, several people have stepped up to share their stretching stories with The Stretched Community. Today, I have the honor and privilege of presenting TC Avey. TC blogs regularly at Wisdom of a Fool, and she has recently become a regular commenter here on the Stretched blog. Please check out TC’s post and leave an answer to her question. Afterwards, go check out her blog. Her contact information along with a short bio can be found at the end of the post. Thanks!
The Choice was Mine…
I hadn’t been out of High School long when reality set in – not everyone was tolerant of Christians.
Let’s go back to the 90’s.
I was 19 and a Freshman in College on full academic scholarship.
I had to maintain a high GPA or I would be forced to take out huge college loans (something I really didn’t want to do – but then again, who does?).
Things were going well. My classes were easy and I had no fear of NOT maintaining my GPA, until…
A professor challenged my resources for a speech.
I was trapped.
I had used the Bible as reference (I mean how can you argue Christianity is a major world religion without referencing the Bible?).
She informed me I could do my speech on Christianity, she had no problem with that. She simply did not feel the Bible was a credible resource. If I insisted upon using it – I would fail.
I was floored.
How was I to proceed?
I could change religions – a few others in the class did. I could opt to use books from theologians and ignore the foundation of Christianity being built upon the Bible – a few of the more devoted Christians were going this route.
Or I could stick with my original speech – founded upon the Bible.
I could choose to fail.
The choice was mine.
I thought about dropping the class, but I didn’t want to chicken out.
I thought about Peter denying Jesus three times. But I didn’t want to experience the guilt. True Jesus forgave him and would forgive me too…but He shouldn’t have to.
Besides, I couldn’t avoid confrontations my entire life. I was an adult. It was time to start acting like one.
I had a tough choice to make. No one could make it for me.
Though stuck between a rock and hard place, I knew what I had to do.
I knew what I was going to do!
I would proceed as planned and deal with the consequences.
I would stand firm in my faith. I would defend my belief and I would use the Bible as a reference.
Yet despite my conviction, I was nervous.
In the back of my mind I kept assuring myself she couldn’t really flunk me. I was sure it was an empty threat.
Just in case I was wrong, I looked up the numbers to many of the administrative staff. I was going to take this higher up if she did fail me. I wouldn’t go down without a fight!
I also spent hours praying, asking God to help me.
In the end, my worry was for nothing, God did help me.
While she wasn’t thrilled with my blatant disregard for her instructions, she didn’t fail me.
She didn’t even give me a horrible grade!
Looking back, I can’t even remember her giving me a hard time the rest of the semester.
If memory serves me correctly, our lives went on as normal.
She was the professor. I was the student.
End of Story.
Except I learned standing for my faith isn’t as hard as it first looked. I also learned the truth and power of 1 John 4:4 NIV, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
That speech class, and professor, taught me way more than the syllabus promised!
Praise God!
How has standing up for something related to your faith stretched you?
About the Author
TC Avey is a Christian blogger. She is an aspiring Author, avid reader, lover of history and enjoys politics. She has a passion for God and America. Her blog Wisdom of a Fool is dedicated to enlightening others about today’s current events from a Christian perspective. She also has a Monday series on “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. She offers a monthly Newsletter. You can also follow her on Twitter.