JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 24, 2006 — When Lori Neal came to 51社区 as a freshman, she wasn鈥檛 sure what she wanted to do with her life.
Maybe something sports-related. After all, she came to Union on a softball scholarship.
But an evaluation she completed during her college years pointed her instead to a career in art. Now she鈥檚 completing a master of fine arts degree from the University of Georgia.
鈥淚鈥檓 one of the only Christians in my program,鈥� Neal said. 鈥淛ust to be able to be very confident in who I am and who (God) made me to be gives me the confidence to go out into a dark world.鈥�
Neal鈥檚 story caught the attention of bestselling Christian author Max Lucado, who included a section about her in his latest book, 鈥淐ure for the Common Life.鈥�
Lucado wrote about Neal, who through the Discovering My Design assessment realized her gifts and how she could use them for God鈥檚 glory.
鈥淲ithin three years the confused, softball-playing freshman was a focused and recognized college senior,鈥� Lucado wrote. 鈥淭he prestigious 鈥楥eramics Monthly鈥� published her writings, and the world鈥檚 premier ceramic school, Alfred University, invited her to study on their campus.鈥�
Neal spent one year studying at Alfred before transferring to Georgia.
Lucado told of his conversation with Neal, in which she described her passion for her art work. He asked how a career in art can 鈥渕ake a big deal out of God,鈥� to which Neal gave two answers.
鈥淭he art world has few Jesus followers,鈥� Neal said. 鈥淲hen I do my best, they notice, not just me, but my Lord.鈥�
Neal also told about working at a rehab center one summer, when one of her jobs was to draw pictures on balloons for handicapped children.
鈥淲hen the work of my hands makes little girls smile, that鈥檚 where my heart is,鈥� Neal said.
A 2002 Union graduate and native of Mansfield, Tenn., Neal will complete her master鈥檚 degree in May. She and her fianc茅e, Clay Nolen, a 1999 Union graduate, will then move back to West Tennessee. Neal doesn鈥檛 yet know what the next chapter in her life will hold, but she is sure of one thing.
鈥淕od gave me all of these gifts, and it鈥檚 my gift to give back to him, to use my gifts for his purpose,鈥� she said.