Writing thesis was not easy for me, for I was not good at writing even in Japanese. My major was American/English literature at college. However, in retrospect, I like English language but I was not necessarily interested in literature. As I had constantly been attending Sunday services, I gradually understood the real meaning of sins which are the main theme of "The Scarlet Letter". Thanks to God's help, I was able to finish my graduation thesis. Although I tried very hard on it, I was not confident when it comes to its contents and my writing. Still worse, it was too difficult for me to read all of the original. In fact, I had read only the half in English and read all in Japanese translation. But I've written a good summary on my thesis in English.

It was a day I was to have an oral examination on my thesis. I was anxious about it, for it was the first experience in my life. I was so nervous about questions: what kind of questions I expect to have and how I reply to them. Before leaving my apartment for college, I prayed to Jesus, "Jesus. I did my thesis very hard but I have no confidence in it. Please help me not to have difficult questions." (Well....., what a selfish prayer I did to the Lord!) We had to wait for each turn seated outside the classroom. The first & the third persons before my turn seemed to take Hawthorne's novels and it took very long time for each of them to finish oral tests. I became more nervous. I thought what I should do when receiving rapid-fire questions for more than 30 minutes.

My turn came. There were the professor in charge and the professor of Director of American/English Literature Dept. I didn't know why but they asked me only two or three questions. Later, the professor in charge went on asking me, " You've written very well about sins, haven't you? Are you a Christian, by the way?" I explained to him that seeking the meaning of sins brought me to attend church and later I was baptized and became a Christian. He said smiling to me, "What a blessing it is, isn't it?" I didn't know if he was a Christian. As the other professor was an incumbent pastor, I continued to tell them in details about my baptism: the way I was baptized by immersion and the mysterious story about healing my stomachache after baptizing. It might be only me who made one's personal testimony at an oral test. :-) However, the professor (pastor) gave me a thin smile. I was shocked, since it was like a cynical smile saying, "How foolish you are telling so!" in his heart. I was astonished why he, a pastor, couldn't believe the story that God performed a wonderful thing on me.

Later, as I was asked by the professor in charge, "Have you read all the original?", I said to him honestly, "The original was too difficult for me. I read only the half." The professor seemed to have understood but he became not angry about me. It seemed it took only ten minutes or so for the oral exam like a small talk. I suppose it actually took more time. Amazing! I prayed to Jesus about asking too much on the oral exam. I did appreciate Him for answering even to my selfish prayer. By the way, the rating was "B". Hallelujah!