"To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don't grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float."

~ Alan Watts

As someone who can't swim (I know - get it together right?), this quote really struck me! I think of the uncertainties of the waters we are facing right now; how strong the current of change is flowing, and how it infects us all with fear, hope, or a little of both.

I think often of how I can give assurances that our direction is a good one, and how we will all be OK in the end. I try to find the perfect words, or data, or idea. Then I realize that I cannot guarantee that, and that despite my best intentions I cannot make you believe in the direction we are heading. I cannot control and know with certainty that everyone is even rowing in the same direction across so many functional areas within our institution. I must have faith. Faith that our staff and faculty are doing their best to retain students, faith that we are heading in the right direction, and faith that despite the challenges of the last few years, that we will be stronger because of it.

Faith alone of course won't suffice, but it is an important prerequisite. I am asking for you to have faith in me and in each other. We will disappoint at times, and we will miss our marks. But we will also meet our marks and reveal the best of us to one another. This faith in each other helps us navigate the challenges, and ultimately find more joy, trust, and happiness in our daily interactions.

I thank you for your faith in me as your President, even without knowing how everything will work out. I commit to put my faith in you to move us toward our goals. I will try to keep that faith even when things don't quite go to plan, and I know you will extend the same faith with your students, coworkers, and leadership. When we lose faith in one another, I'm afraid we will drown, and I am certain none of us want that for ourselves or each other. When we keep faith in one another, everything becomes possible, and it sure feels so much better than the alternative.

Enjoy your weekend, and keep the faith!