(PA) @ University of South Dakota @ University of Tennessee @ University of Tulsa (OK) @ University of Pittsburgh and Other Pittsburgh Area Colleges @ University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee @ University of Wisconsin—Superior @ University of Wyoming @ Valparaiso University (IN) @ Vanderbilt University (TN) @ Wright State University (OH)
@ Air Force Academy (CO) @ Ball State University (IN) @ Boise State University (ID) @ Brock University (Ontario) @ California Polytechnic State University @ Carthage College (WI) @ Central Michigan University @ Chico State University (CA) @ Colorado State University @ Cornell College (IA)
Christ On Campus
A Nerdy Lutheran’s Guide to
Dating By Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz
There I was—surrounded by water.
The gunwales of that tiny rowboat felt like a prison wall, the oar locks were my shackles, and there were more than 200 yards of pure, mountain fresh Oregon lake water between me and freedom. I was trapped, like Admiral Ackbar. And all I could do was stare at the creaky boat bottom or gaze at the glimmer of the bobbers upon the water, waiting for a bite and praying for the awkward conversation to end. But thankfully, I wasn’t alone. My father
was in that boat with me. And as it turned out, he didn’t bring me out in the middle of that lake to be my prison warden, but because he cared. He cared enough to brave an awkward conversation with his adolescent son about dating, marriage, and sex. And so that’s what we did, or rather, what he did. Honestly, I don’t remember talking all that much; my job was to listen. Whether it was this maritime pre-premarital counseling session or during one of those embarrassing moments in an R-rated film where my parents would pause the VCR and explain why it wasn’t good that this man and woman were doing because they weren’t married—they taught me the importance of the 6th commandment. We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.
H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 18
Duluth @ University of Minnesota—Morris @ University of Minnesota—Twin Cities @ University of North Carolina—Greensboro @ University of North Dakota @ University of Northern Colorado @ University of Northern Iowa @ University of Oklahoma @ University of Pittsburgh
