The very first trip home from college usually occurs in November at Thanksgiving, and that was true for me. At that time all your high school friends eagerly gather at one of the local “hang-outs”, often a pizza place, and everyone talks at once about his or her school. Each one waits for a chance to talk and they all ignore each other’s stories. Jeff, one of the popular boys in my class, was really excited. Jeff told me that he was taking a “pinpoint” class, and that he was surely going to make it his major. I asked him what that might be, and he answered, “You know, it’s a class where you learn everything you already know, but you never pinpointed it before.” I said, “Does it have a another name, maybe, in the the catalog?” “I think so, he answered, “I think it’s called ‘Sociology.’ I’m going to declare it for my major next year, but I call it the ‘Pinpoint Course’, because that’s what it really is.”

“The study of sociology gives you the skills 21^st century workers need: critical and analytical thinking, writing ability, cultural competence, and self-awareness.” (The Career Center, University of Michigan)

It seemed to me that Jeff was well on his way to finding “self awareness” in his pinpoint course. Pinpointing things you’ve always known, is a lot like recognizing your Creator for the first time, and even for subsequent times. It’s like God’s own description of discovering something He already knew: “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the dessert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.” (Hosea 9:10)

When we “see” the resurrection of Jesus, it’s like Jesus saying, “Behold! I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) Even though all things are new, they make sense to us, and it is a pinpoint through which we see both Jesus and God.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us for a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) God’s Book is the perfect textbook for the Pinpoint class. In it we can come to self-awareness as we gain God awareness in our walk with Christ. “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:11) “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I may not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

The Psalmist desires to be secure in his relationship to his holy God. He, like Jeff , is seeking pinpoints in order to find and appropriate the Truth. I believe that we all need the Pinpoint Course.

Love in Him,

Prue