I have been so blessed to have amazing mentors in my life. Tonight I got to celebrate with one of them, Dr. Keith Olson, who is retiring from 19 years of service at Bethel Seminary. A night filled with reminiscing at Bethel tonight, along with staff, faculty and alumni. It was a magical, touching evening of recalling my student days at Bethel, 12 years back. And so even as I was saying goodbye to Keith tonight, he blessed me yet again. I realized that for the first time of living in San Diego, I have major history in this city. I feel so deeply, about a period of my life in San Diego, that happened from 2001 – 2004. I have history in San Diego! That gives me a sense of belonging that I haven’t felt before. But back to Keith, tonight was about him. Here is a tribute to him:

A giant in my life

Your presence is that of a giant

A tall, friendly, gentle giant

A giant in my life

Changing my course in an unequivocal way

Always there at Bethel

Available, present, caring and protecting

Guiding and leading as needed

Tender and sweet in nature

Coffee meetings in various Starbucks

Intellectual conversations and questions answered

All the while standing in as an attachment figure

Serving a fatherly role without even knowing it

I could not be who I am, if it wasn’t for you

Your love, your influence, your training

And I will be forever grateful for the person you are

The teacher, the mentor and friend

You will always be a giant in my life

I will always be indebted to you

Tears in my eyes as I write this now

Missing you will become a part of life

You’ve sown so much, given of yourself

Changed so many lives, many more than my own

Enjoy your retirement and investing in your little ones

I’m so grateful to have had such a giant in my life