“Hey, Tyler.” Even though Lane’s greeting was just above a whisper, Tyler jumped from being startled out of his reverie. (From the first day of their meeting, it had been established that Tyler’s name was not ‘Ty’, and that he wished to be addressed ‘Tyler’.) “What are you doing here by yourself in the dark; dreaming of your one true love?” This last question came as Tyler turned and addressed his friend with his bulging eyes and raised eyebrows.

“I only wish I had a one true love,” Tyler answered in a slightly mournful tone. “No, I was just thinking, was all. I don’t think this school is teaching me all I need to know, especially about Jesus. I mean, exactly who was he? You’ve never had professor Updike, have you? Every time I ask him a question, he just sort of snorts at me and looks down at me like I’m a grammar school kid. I just wish he wasn’t so tall, that’s all. Sometimes I actually feel like a grammar school kid, not knowing what I think I ought to know.” With those huge eyes of his, Tyler had the morose look down pat.

Lane patted his friend on the back, then massaged his shoulders a bit. “Aw, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re just a sophomore and you’re still studying preliminary stuff like Latin, Greek, and simple philosophy, and all those basic things. And, if I remember my first year or two, you don’t get really deep into the Bible for another year.” Somehow Lane knew that, if their roles had been reversed, that argument wouldn’t have made him feel any better either.

With an impatient gasp and a sigh, Tyler responded, “But that’s just not so. We are getting good exposure to the Scriptures, and Dr. Bailey, last semester, was really good about explaining things like the Trinity, and the Ascension, and the Virgin Birth, and all those things, but I just can’t seem to tie them all together. And what about the Incarnation? Exactly what does that mean? Why don’t you ever seem to be confused? Maybe I should just give up and go to a trade school.”

Lane thought quite a while before he answered; in fact, Tyler turned and looked to be sure Lane hadn’t left the room. Finally, as he sat down heavily on the tiny couch, Lane began, haltingly, his answer: “You know, sometimes I wonder if we’re even supposed to know all the answers to those things. I mean, I’m about to graduate and I can’t really explain to you about the Virgin Birth, the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and all the rest. You know, I really can’t explain the Trinity to you or anyone else. I’ve heard that no one has ever been able to explain the Trinity—that it can’t be explained in earthly language. So, what did Dr. Bailey say about the Trinity? You said he explained it last semester. What did he say?”

Tyler shouted in frustration: “That’s just it; I don’t know!” He wrung his hands, tears welling up in his eyes. “All I know is I study and memorize, I read and take tests, and I still don’t get it. What am I doing here? My parents are spending all this money putting me through school and I won’t have a thing to show for it.” He sat next to Lane on the couch and put his head in his hands. Lane thought he might be weeping silently.

“Take it easy, Buddy. You’re being too hard on yourself. Aren’t you making good grades when you don’t have to miss out on classes because you’re having to move all the time? I’ve heard from several people that you’re a bright pupil. Don’t forget, I’m here to help—at least until I graduate.” As he said these things, Lane’s voice grew gentle and he continued to pat Tyler’s shoulder reassuringly. “You know, I believe I have as many doubts as you do. What we ought to do is pool our resources, sort of. We need to put our heads together and really study hard, you know, the basics. I’ll venture to say you know every bit as much about theology as anyone else around here. Most of the rest of us just don’t want to admit we don’t know what we’re talking about. At least you admit it, and you’re concerned about it. There’s a senior, a girl who’s in most of my classes, and they say she never misses a single question on a test. I’ll bet she doesn’t really know all the answers any more than you and I do. Her name is Lois. Why don’t we talk to her and see if it’s just you and me or if it’s basically everybody, the brainy ones and the duds like us, who don’t have any answers?” While he began the conversation with the purpose of comforting Tyler in his distress, Lane found himself aligned with his friend in doubt and anxiety. Even after he finished speaking, he kept his eyes fixed on Tyler’s face, hoping Tyler would meet his gaze and acknowledge the point he had attempted to make.

Tyler finally responded slowly and deliberately, “In a way I hope you’re right but, on the other hand, I’d hate to think the entire student body is wasting their parents’ money like I’m doing. Surely this is all making sense to somebody. All right, lets talk to this Lois and see what she says. You’re a good friend, Lane, old sod.” He grabbed the hand that was patting his shoulder and shook it vigorously. They walked, arms around each other, into the kitchenette to brew a pot of coffee. This was going to be an all night session.