Several years back, a student asked if we could have lunch. He was thinking about going to graduate school, and could use some advice. I happily agreed but when we met, he quickly announced that he didn’t really want to talk about graduate school. He wanted to talk about girls and marriage!
A month earlier he had been in my home for an end-of-the-term party, and he had observed my wife and I interacting. He explained that he didn’t know a single married couple that had not divorced. He saw how we treated each other, and he wanted to know our secret.
I replied, “I don’t think you really want to know our secret.” This was not my first conversation with this student. I had shared with him about Jesus on one previous occasion, and he had made it clear that he wasn’t interested.
But he pressed me, so I told him that our secret was based in Jesus. He said, “You’re right, I don’t want to know… but I want to know!” We had a great conversation, and his heart softened to the Lord that day.
This experience prompted me to create something I call “Life Lunch” – an extra office hour for talking about topics of life, faith, and family.
For the past thirteen years I have taught the senior year Software Engineering Capstone at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I love working with these students as they are about to launch into their next stage of life after graduation.
At the beginning of the semester, I invite them to join me for “Life Lunch”. I explain that this is a time to talk about things other than software engineering. If they find themselves wishing they could talk about important life issues with someone other than their peers and their friends, I’m available.
Initially I would camp out in the cafeteria one hour a week at lunchtime, and students would find me. Lately I’ve moved the time to 4pm on Thursdays. We meet in my office and sometimes go for a walk around campus.
Most students come alone, but some come in groups. Many students have a specific topic in mind, often wanting advice on which job to accept. Often Christian students come to ask how to live out their faith as a software engineer. Sometimes non/pre-Christian students come to explore what I think about a particular topic or how an intelligent person can believe the Bible.
Other Christian faculty here at Cal Poly have borrowed aspects of the “Life Lunch,” setting aside time – once a week or once a month – to talk with students about anything besides class. And seeing where God wants to take the conversation.
David Janzen
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo