God’s greatness confirmed

We all model our lives on stories we’ve heard and the people who exist in those stories. There are, of course, the biblical accounts of God’s people and Jesus. But there are also stories closer to home. The stories of our parents, grandparents, or people we hear about often make a profound impact on who we are and what we work at becoming.

This series looks at some of those stories as told by people within our Canadian Mennonite Brethren church family.

Alfred Hecht, professor emeritus of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, tells the story of how his faith was brought into a new light when he was a young, first-year university student.

Alfred was attending United College in Winnipeg (now the University of Winnipeg) in the 1960s during the time when major scientific theories were making headlines and the “God is Dead” movement was questioning Christian theological views. Some members of his home congregation had counselled him not to go to university, as higher education would be harmful to his faith and likely lead him astray.

Alfred had entered the science program and clearly remembers the day when his physics professor, James Duff, was lecturing on the force of gravity. The class had also been studying the makeup of the nucleus of an atom, its various properties, and how it impacted all matter within the universe.

Professor Duff had just drawn a model of the solar system and was describing how the force of gravity affected its functioning. At one point he stopped in his lecture, stepped back almost to the edge of the lecture platform, looked at what he had drawn on the board, and exclaimed, “Isn’t this fantastic? This couldn’t have happened by mere chance!”

For Alfred this was a breakthrough in what had been a challenging start to university. If this highly respected physics professor could have such open admiration for God’s creation, then so could he. From then on, Alfred’s faith was firmly grounded. It was the guiding principle in his life, and in his subsequent studies and career in education.

Professor Duff had taught Alfred that scientific theories and discoveries need not negate his beliefs. Instead, they revealed the glorious intricacies of a creator God whose boundless love for the smallest detail knew no limits.

Alfred went on to get his doctorate and has had a long career as a university professor. And he’s never forgotten that day in the classroom, when science no longer challenged, but rather confirmed, his deep faith in God.

Alfred and his wife Linda are members of Grace MB Church in Waterloo, Ontario.

Ken Reddig is director of the Centre for MB Studies, Winnipeg.