Memories of hope
04/11/2025
Dr. Lamar Nisly explored the importance of remembering the past to gain confidence for the future.
Civic Engagement Theme Culmination
During Bluffton University’s Forum on Tuesday, April 8, Dr. Lamar Nisly, professor of English, presented on the Civic Engagement Day theme: “Faith and Memory in Challenging Times.”
Nisly emphasized how memories of hope and faith can provide strength and guidance during moments of uncertainty. Nisly encouraged students and staff alike to reflect on their personal stories, family narratives and community experiences.
“The light can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward,” Nisly shared, quoting Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. “Our memories gather the past, bring it to bear on the present and release the potential for the future.”
The event also delved into the role of faith, using stories from the Bible, including those of Abraham and Sarah, to show how uncertainty often accompanies moments of profound change.
For Nisly, the power of these stories lies in their ability to remind us of the strength and courage that can emerge when we reflect on the faithfulness of the past.
The community has also had the opportunity to reflect on its collective history, such as the tragic bus accident of 2007, a painful moment that deeply impacted the university. Nisly shared his personal memories of the event and how, despite the devastation, the community came together in remarkable ways, offering each other support and finding strength in shared grief.
“Our memories, whether personal, family, or communal, offer us the strength to move forward, even when the path ahead is unclear,” said Nisly. “It is through these stories of faithfulness, support and resilience that we are reminded of the power we have to navigate the future.”
On Civic Engagement Day, Wednesday, April 9, students, faculty and staff attended sessions centered on the theme instead of following a typical Wednesday class schedule. Styled like a conference, sessions ranged from MBA students presented about the mental and spiritual health of student athletes to interactive theatre workshops on exploring mental health in challenging times.
In total, more than 25 Civic Engagement Day presentations were available for the campus community to choose from starting at 8 a.m. and continuing through to an evening presentation ending around 8 p.m.
At Bluffton, an annual Civic Engagement theme has been selected each year since 2007 when the topic “Environmental Stewardship: Living in the Natural World” was studied. More recent themes include “Exploring the Continuum of Emotional Wellness” and “Please don't ‘ghost’ me!: Creating space for authentic conversations.”
Bluffton University was recognized by the Higher Learning Commission as one of 37 institutions meeting the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition’s criteria as a Full Participation Institution.