I remember when I couldn't wait to get out of school. I thought education was a temporary obstacle to life. That was before I learned that God designed us to be learners, explorers, and discoverers; and that education was an adventure of a lifetime—an eternal lifetime.

I was inspired this past weekend by one who embraced that concept here and now. She's known on the campus of Andrews University as "Auntie Irma," a 66-year-old grandma who just completed her doctorate in education administration and received her diploma with her grandchildren-aged classmates.

Irma LaBorde began her lifelong learning on the island of St. Vincent. Inspired by her father, she has kept his dream alive of one day establishing a school. With his encouragement, she began teaching at the age of 16. Three children and ten grandchildren later, she has completed her doctoral degree and plans to return to her island home to establish a teacher's college.

The process of realizing a God-given dream does not come without considerable sacrifice. Yet, somehow the sacrifices made to establish this partnership/relationship with the Master Teacher appear small compared to the large gains in purpose-driven service that it produces.

Whether you are on a quest to realize your God-given dream, providing the resources to help others realize their dreams; or like "Auntie Irma" you have a vision to teach the teachers, God wants to partner with you in that process of learning. I look forward to an eternal lifetime of realizing my God-given dreams.

Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director.