Today in chapel, recording artist Andrew Peterson shared a powerful message about the importance of setting our minds on the Lord. Drawing from both his music and his reflections on life, Peterson focused on three key words that he uses to help realign his heart and mind with God's truth. These words serve as reminders of the Gospel and our calling to declare God’s glory in our everyday lives. 

The first word Peterson introduced was eucatastrophe. Coined by J.R.R. Tolkien, a eucatastrophe is a sudden, joyous turn in a seemingly hopeless situation. For Christians, the ultimate eucatastrophe is found in the incarnation of Jesus Christ — God becoming man to redeem the world. Even more, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead represents the greatest eucatastrophe in human history. As Peterson pointed out, “In our story, it’s the incarnation of Jesus. And in Jesus' story and ours, it’s the resurrection.” This reminds us that even when life seems bleak, God is always at work behind the scenes, orchestrating the ultimate redemption. 

Next, Peterson spoke about sehnsucht, a German word that captures an intense longing — a deep, unfulfilled desire that lingers in the heart. This longing is a tug toward home, a yearning for something greater. Peterson explained that this feeling is a signpost pointing us to Jesus, as we long for the day when all things will be made right in Him. As believers, we are reminded in Scripture that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and this longing is a reflection of our ultimate desire to be with our Savior.  

Finally, Peterson highlighted fidelity, which refers to strong, steady faithfulness. He encouraged students to focus on being faithful in the present, planting seeds where God has placed them and trusting that the harvest belongs to God alone. Too often, he said, we fall into the lie that "the good life is out there" somewhere beyond our current circumstances. But the truth is, God calls us to be content with tending the "garden" He has given us, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Peterson emphasized that faithfulness, not success or control, is what God asks of us. 

Throughout his message, Peterson reminded us that our ultimate purpose is to declare the glory of the Lord in all that we do. Our work, no matter how mundane it may seem, is an opportunity to point others to the deeds of the Lord. As Peterson said, “We are here to bear witness to the manifold wonders of what Jesus has done and is doing.” We don’t need to be afraid of the darkness or the challenges in life because we know that God is sovereign over all. Our calling is to faithfully obey and share the good news of the Gospel with those around us. 

In closing, Peterson encouraged us to live out the reality of our faith, knowing that we are painting a picture of the world that is to come. Let us embrace the words that set our minds on the Lord and bear witness to His greatness in all that we do.