Falling Short, Standing Tall: What an Ancient Church and Modern University Have in Common

One of my favorite churches in the world is the Temple of San Biagio, located in Montepulciano, Italy. Situated down a steep road outside the town walls, it is just far enough away from everything else to feel like a lovely surprise as you come upon it. Maybe not the fanciest of churches, it is nonetheless beautiful with its central dome, amber slabs, and large surrounding yard—where I’ve enjoyed watching nuns play soccer with local children. It serves a relatively small area but does so with strength and certainty.

Like all places of worship, this church has its own history—a 16th-century construction on the site of a medieval parish, with ties to miraculous events connected to one of its frescoes. Its history is steeped in faith, a structure that speaks to the confidence Renaissance builders had about their beliefs and the continuity of their efforts with a future that would unfold after them.

Maybe only a college president would think this, but I can see how building a church for the ages is not unlike how we must think about our commitment to the future that we are building through our university. San Biagio is one of many churches that has for ages made a bold statement about faith, no matter what else unfolded around it. And on our best days as we live into our mission and values, I believe that Texas Lutheran University is also making a strong statement about our faith, no matter what challenges surround us.

I love the beauty, strength, and confidence of San Biagio. But my very favorite part of San Biagio is its demonstration of falling short and still standing tall. On the side of the church, a strong and prominent bell tower stands—calling people in and also sending a powerful message out. And yet right beside that prominent bell tower is a much shorter structure, unfinished, squatty, misplaced. The original goal, of course, was twin bell towers. The reality was limited funding that made that impossible. So, in a very prominent way, San Biagio is unfinished, less than perfect, exposing an effort that fell short. And yet still standing tall and drawing people in.

Faith-based universities are not called to be perfect. And sometimes our flaws and limitations are clear to see. Yet, we are still afforded the opportunity to stand tall, draw people in, and send our students out with a bold assurance that, even when not all will go as planned, our efforts will make a difference.