It is intimidating to write a tribute which will appear alongside the remembrances of world-renowned writers and scholars. I don’t aspire to join either of those categories. But I am in the group that called Chris Mitchell friend, mentor and more. Chris and I worked together at the Wade Center for 12 years. And two categories stand out as I look back on his impact on me. I was personally impacted by Chris’s desire to value and grow people as individuals. As I said, I am not a scholar. But Chris recognized and valued my administrative gifts, which allowed me to flourish in my role at the Wade as I supported the scholarship of the Inklings community. His belief in me was invigorating. I was privileged to participate in important advancements at the Wade Center because Chris trusted and supported me. I take that confidence with me as I forge ahead in the path God has led me to pursue. In addition, I am a Learner. I learned so much from Chris over our morning coffee at the Wade Center (yes, the coffee/tea preference actually was a question that made its way into job interviews…alas, Chris and I remained the only two early-morning coffee drinkers all those years). Through words and example, Chris demonstrated the power and joy of a life committed to Christ, to Truth – in his discoveries as a scholar, as a husband and father, with his friends, in his church. He strived to be the real deal in all areas of his life. He was willing to be vulnerable as he searched, struggled, grew in these ways. How often did I saunter into his office with my morning coffee, and he’d say, “Oh wait, let me go pour mine.” (He used a Chesterton quote mug; mine displayed the Dewey decimal classification for COFFEE). Once we settled in, I’d introduce some policy, personnel or budget concern, about which we dialogued. And then he’d delay me with his latest nugget for the upcoming Tolkien/MacDonald/Lewis lecture. Wow…for an administrator that loves to learn, it doesn’t get any better than that. Thanks be to God for His work through Chris in me, in each of us.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 22:03:50 +0000
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