Jeff Frank is a familiar face around campus. Whether you’ve taken one of his classes or browsed his page on Rate My Professor, you know he encourages the kind of deep, critical thinking that breaks from the stereotypical classroom. I’m currently in his course “Parents, Children, and the Life Worth Living,” and it sure is now thanks to Jeff’s class.
We began by reading “Genesis.” Through discussions with my peers and Jeff every Tuesday and Thursday morning, I’ve come to see the text in ways I never expected—insights that will stay with me far longer than the three hours a week we spend together. What follows is my personal reflection, though each student has drawn something different from the stories, which is part of what makes this class so engaging.
My main takeaway is that “Genesis” emphasizes straying from the expected path. Life is not meant to be easy; it is often a struggle. We see this most vividly in Joseph, who endures betrayal and hardship yet holds on to faith. Because of that faith, he rises to power and saves a nation. In class, we often return to the idea that religion is about how you live—keep your faith, and God is with you. This echoes Augustine’s line: “Love God and do what you want.”
This theme of the wayward son runs through “Genesis.” Faith is essential, but it is always a risk—a gamble with God. When Rebekah (the wife of Isaac) asks, “Why do I exist?” she receives no clear answer. Instead, the text suggests that life cannot be reduced to one purpose. The stories show the tension between listening to your father (or God) and forging your own path. In this sense, “Genesis” is less about closure and more about beginnings. God creates, gives some direction, then steps back, leaving humans to wrestle with meaning and responsibility.
Finally, I end on the idea of commitment to God. Faith is abstract—like a relationship with a parent, child or partner. It isn’t physical or tangible, and it is hard to define or change. But once you fully commit to it, you feel its love. The same is true in parenting or other human bonds: yes, mistakes are inevitable, but the commitment remains. Even God makes mistakes in these stories—most dramatically in flooding the earth—but still reaffirms his covenant. In committing to God, life is simplified. Even when days are hard, you return to that foundation of belief and love. Religion differs from philosophy in this way: philosophy always searches and questions, while religion calls you to act, to do.
Taken together, these lessons are a kind of call to action: live. As a senior about to graduate, I find this especially relevant. Facing the unknown after college is less daunting when I trust the faith I have—whether in myself, in my relationships, or in God. The stories in “Genesis” don’t promise easy answers, but they do encourage courage. They remind me that even when the path is unclear, I am still called to walk it. And sometimes, that act of walk