The first Dine and Discuss of the Spring semester took place on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 5:30 p.m. in Coburn 1.
Dine and Discuss is an event that takes place once a month to help students grow as leaders. Students from all over campus come and dine with friends and discuss a topic that the selected speaker chooses to explore.
Tuesday’s event began when Lindsey Weaver, the assistant director for student leadership and engagement, introduced Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, President of Union University.
“We want to fill up students’ tool boxes with as many tools and resources as we can before they set out into the world,” explained Weaver. “It started because there was (and still is) a need for increased leadership development opportunities and programming.”
After a long day in Nashville, Oliver returned to campus in time to share his wisdom to the student-leaders who gathered in the room. Oliver used Matthew 5:13-16 to speak to students about how to be a light on campus. He gave three strategies on how to live out this passage of scripture.
Excellence
Excellence was the first strategy. Oliver spoke about how we should pursue excellence in all areas.
“One of the best things that you can do to be a light in a dark world is to be excellent at what you are doing,” said Oliver. “When you go out, one of the ways to be a light is to be that city on a hill, to be excellent in whatever God has called you to do here at Union.”
Humility
Humility was the second strategy. Oliver both encouraged students and explained that no matter who you are or what your position might be, no one is ever too good to pick up trash.
“If we have the right spirit of humility, then we will see that everything we have been given is a gift from the Lord as opposed to something we have done,” said Oliver.
Love
Love was the third and final strategy that Oliver discussed. He said that of these three, love is the hardest. Although it is the hardest, it should be done well.
Oliver said that we should “love in such a way that you understand that every single person bears the image and likeness of God.”
Students recognized that this opportunity to dine and discuss with their university president and to grow as leaders on campus is unique and should not be taken for granted.
“He encouraged us to be the best we can be in whatever God has called us to do, because as college students, doing this can get hard at times,” said Elizabeth Smith, freshman chemistry major.
The next Dine and Discuss event will be held on Monday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of UU Photo Project
