This post was written by Jackson Locke. Jackson and I both chose communication studies as our major at Toccoa Falls College – me a few years earlier. Reading some of his writing brings back a lot of my own memories of similar “shifts” which happened during the college season of my life. Jackson was kind enough to allow me to post some of his recent work here about changes – I hope you enjoy it.
Study Abroad Course Paper
I know for certain that the Jackson Locke, who came to Toccoa Falls College two years ago, would
have judged this trip quite negatively. My thoughts probably would have consisted of something like,
“You’re telling me a Christian college went on a two-week trip and didn’t evangelize? We didn’t
spread the gospel? We didn’t have group Bible studies? None of that?”
When I arrived at TFC, I held tightly to a rigid sacred/secular divide. I even remember a conversation with Dr. Wanner where he said something positive about an R-rated movie, probably his favorite, The Godfather, and this fact made me uncomfortable, as the only R-rated movie I was willing to vouch for at the time was The Passion of the Christ. At the time, I was unable to view any other such-rated movie as something that could be beneficial to me or an artifact that could teach me something new.
I say all this to show that my views have changed. I no longer see the world as two separate streams,
one sacred, one secular. In fact, in some ways, I struggle more now than I did then because it was
easier when I could categorize the world: if something was sacred, I accepted it; if something was secular, I disregarded it or attempted to make it sacred. This way of seeing the world also shaped how I viewed people: they were either in or out, Christian or not, saved or damned, right or wrong. Again, that’s an easy way to view the world, which led me to view people as either part of my group or
not. If they aren’t, they either need to be converted immediately or loved so that they can be converted.
Now, my perspective is more nuanced. I seek to find the good in all people, to see the imago Dei in everyone, and to understand the presence of common grace in all of creation and humanity. Do I think I now have a perfect epistemology? Absolutely not. But in a strange, and some might argue humble way, I think acknowledging that I don’t have all the answers is more faithful than holding to a rigid, two-kingdom approach. Will my thoughts continue to change in the future? I hope so. Sometimes I feel like I’m just swimming in wishful thinking and perhaps just what I want to be true, but right now, this is where I am.
All of this is to preface one part of the trip that I found especially meaningful: the table. We moved constantly on this trip, from place to place, landmark to landmark. We were always on the move. However, our shared meals gave us the chance to slow down, reflect, rest, get to know each other, and offer gratitude to God. Our meals served as a liturgy. Reading [a post made on this blog] I came across a post where [Javen] described a new coffee shop his family had opened. Reflecting on the coffee shop, Javen wrote:
“I don’t see this as a vehicle or a segue to something spiritual and sacred – it is in fact that
thing. This is a table. This is a cup of cold water (and milk and syrup and espresso). This is to
taste, to see, to touch. It is a communion. It is a liturgy. Certainly, not everyone who comes sees it that way, and they are just as extremely welcome as anyone else. To me, that’s really fun – I’m so grateful to get to be a part of this.”
The tables where we shared meals served as a meeting place, with ourselves, each other, and God. Javen said it best, I am so grateful to be a part of this indeed!
*Jackson was named the 2025 communication scholar of the year at Toccoa Falls College*
Things could be stranger but I don’t know how
I’m going through changes now
I’ve spent a lifetime trying to figure it out
I’m going through changes now
And I’ve just begun
Under a purple sun
There’s many reasons we are what we become
I’m going through changes, ripping out pages
I’m going through changes now
“Changes” – Langhorne Slim & The Law
javen.bear. 