In the fall of 1956, Bill should have been returning for his third year of Bible School. But summer had been tough and ended with Bill exhausted. He had traveled with missionaries, interpreting for their ministry to the Cree. With two years of Bible School tucked under his belt Bill also did a lot of direct ministry in Cree, personally witnessing to individuals and doing some preaching in Cree himself. Now he was tired and experiencing something he didn’t understand at the time. 

        “With all the busy things I was doing, I think my own devotional life was getting pretty mechanical.” Years later, the same man, now a mature Christian minister, commented on the ex­perience “I was working for God alright. But I was missing those times of personal worship. I guess I was heavy on Jesus’ example, Work . . . while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4). I should have balanced that with His kind, gentle reminder in Mark 6:31 where He says, ‘Come aside by yourselves .   ., and rest a while.’ ” Whatever it was, spiritual exhaustion, physical burnout, opposition from the unseen enemy, Satan, the result was discouragement for the young Bible School student. Finding a good job in British Columbia, he pondered the question of returning for his third year of Bible School. He’d already learned enough to be of some service—the summer activities had demonstrated that. Why not just stay at this job, finish Bible School sometime in the future? Yes, he’d write the school and tell them he wasn’t coming back this year. 

        Many Berean students were saddened when they learned the young Cree Indian wouldn’t be returning to school. It seemed a pity that the only Native student wasn’t going to complete his preparation for ministry among his people. One new graduate who’d been on the same dish washing crew two years before was disappointed too. Shirley McLeod also felt sorry that Bill wasn’t coming back for his third year. But something surprised her. She couldn’t quite understand the depth of her own personal disappointment that she would probably never see Bill Jackson again. 

        Back in British Columbia, Bill couldn’t sleep. The accident which had happened earlier in the day replayed over and over again in his mind. He’d been swinging a razor-sharp ax to strip a log of branch ends. It was a routine job. But a knot in the wood had flown up, penetrating his face just under the left eye. As the blood gushed out, Bill’s first thought was that he may have lost his eye. 

        Pulling the wooden chip out from above his cheekbone, he thanked God for protecting his eyesight. The boss told him to go and rest. Physically, he could do that. But, there was little rest in his heart. Why did he have to have an accident on the very day Bible School opened? Was God trying to speak to him? 

        That evening, sitting alone in the darkness of the house he was staying in, Bill faced certain questions. What if he was in the wrong place? Could God bless him if he was letting discouragement keep him from going on in God’s path? Sure, Bible School was a struggle for a Grade VIII student whose classmates were high school graduates and, in some cases, even university graduates. Sure, the extra remedial English classes he needed to improve his English were an added burden. Sure, the financial pressure didn’t help. Still, when God calls, God provides all that is needed to succeed. 

        It was a strong temptation to stay on the job in B.C. and earn some real money. Why couldn’t he simply get into his bed, get off to sleep, and forget Bible School?

        Nursing his swollen eye, Bill glanced again at the calendar. He thought of first year students settling into the dorm. He’d been a first year student only two years ago. So, Bible School started today. Why was that fact so disturbing to him? Why couldn’t he shake it off? Was God really attempting to get his attention? Getting down on his knees, the troubled man prayed for a long time. When he arose, it was all settled. His decision to go back to school and finish his final year brought immediate peace to his heart.