While reading the initial paragraphs of the President’s Page on “Religious Diversity at Princeton,” I felt negative vibes welling up within me once again. Unfortunately, when I read PAW, I often am humbled by the accomplishments of those featured, not to mention the enormous difference in our paychecks. (When such feelings are particularly acute, it’s best to avoid the Class Notes.) Furthermore, the thought of “hundreds of Princetonians ... fill[ing] the Chapel’s soaring nave as musicians, dancers, and readers gathered” for “one of the most important holidays in the Hindu calendar” irked me, too.
This visceral response soon abated, however, as I was overcome with a deep sense of gratitude for my own faith experience while an undergraduate. During my nine semesters on campus (the Lord blessed me with an athletic injury to prolong my stay), I discovered that life is about loving God and others — everything else is secondary. I went back and checked my Nassau Herald entry, and sure enough, my memory served me correctly (no longer a given at this age); I did indeed quote Jesus Christ, who said (my paraphrase): “If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, you must become the servant of all.” This truth has served and saved me in countless situations on the homefront, in our local community, and in my ministry over the past three decades. It is a profound truth that I wish for each and every truth-seeker on campus.