August 7, 2026: Chaos and Order

Sometimes chaos is necessary before order.

When I clean, I often drag my stuff out from where it was accumulating and make piles of stuff: chaos. While you don’t want things in this state for too long, it is necessary. The junk eventually gets moved to a new location, a new space, a trash can, a dumpster. Eventually spaces come to order.

We’re seeing this in biology right now. Lab floors are getting a deep cleaning. Old carpets are being ripped out. Books and furniture are cluttering the hallways. But trust us, the chaos will return to order very soon!

It takes a lot of energy to get to order. You might recall the second law of thermodynamics, which states that natural processes tend to move toward disorder. Just yesterday, however, I saw evidence that an input of energy from the sun can cause the unexpected. You have to be quick, and observant, to see these things, but some of us spied a cactus bloom. They don’t last long. But WOW! The beauty! The order!

(You can see it above, or even better at www.instagram.com/aubiologydepartment  or www.facebook.com/AUBiology)

I imagine this as a little biological illustration of what God can do with each one of us – how He can take anything, the mundane and ordinary, even the chaotic, and turn it into order and beauty.

“O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

Next week the school year begins, for some of us. The biology faculty will meet on Tuesday. The annual Faculty and Staff Institute, a day of professional development, will happen on Wednesday. Other preparatory meetings and work will be happening the rest of the week, followed by an employee dedication service at PMC as we launch into the new year.

We want to give a big thank you to Marshley Stewart, who has served as our Administrative Assistant for many departmental tasks over the last couple years. Next week she will be moving on to a role in the Berrien County Forensic Laboratory (which means she won’t be very far away – just next door in Halenz Hall), where she will more directly use her chemistry skills. Congratulations, Marshley, and thank you for taking care of many of the details of departmental life for us, perhaps reducing some of the inevitable chaos that we encounter😊.

Wishing you all the best for the upcoming Sabbath and the week ahead.