It is Easter morning as I sit down to write this. I have taken advantage of the long weekend from the College to enjoy the beauty and relaxation of the Blue Ridge mountains. I think to myself, "I sure do deserve this time away to relax and enjoy the scenery. Let's see, what shall I do? Maybe play a few rounds of golf; I know I will ride my bicycle some, visit with some of our mountain friends and attend worship services in the village. I will have an opportunity to begin writing my Commencement remarks since graduation is only a couple of weeks away. What a great weekend this will be!"

As I sit down to begin working on the Commencement remarks to the graduating class of Greensboro College, I think I will say something like this, "Life in the real world is not divided into semesters; you will no longer have summers off." Then maybe I will follow that with something that will really call them to alarm; I will say something like, "When you go to work in a real job or profession you will find that your boss will probably not be as willing as your parents and your professors have been to give you space so you can find yourself in the great milieu of life." Yes, that will really get their attention! I will really give them a touch of what life is really like out there where you go at it hard every day.

Then I made a mistake and realized very quickly I had my own lesson to learn. I picked up a book about John Wesley and realized that the example he set was one that completely puts me to shame as I sit up here in the mountains enjoying the cool breezes and anticipating the next round of golf. I will show you what I read, and you will see why I feel a little guilty today.

"Easter Day 1747 (4-19) Wesley preached three times in the Newcastle area and headed south. He would preach 53 times during the next 31 days, arriving in London on May 21. He also found time to examine several different societies along the way, to perform a baptismal service, and to visit with several critical Church of England clergy. One morning he left at three a.m. to be on the road to visit a sick friend who lived over 30 miles away.

This trip found Wesley taking a more westerly route than before. He thus visited much of the area in the northwest Midlands (near Manchester, Leeds, etc.). He preached in places he had never been before, and visited with Methodist societies unknown to him."
John Wesley, WORKS (Bic Ed), Vol. 20, "Journal & Diaries III" (Ward & Heitzenrater, Eds) 167-175, © 1991.

Well, now we know what John Wesley did during his Easter break in 1747. I admire and respect Wesley so much, but I seriously question whether or not I can live up to the amazing pace he set. Is it any wonder that he accomplished so much and became such a pivotal figure in 18th-century England?

Craven E. Williams
President
Greensboro College