“Oh, Bushnell? You’re the place with the flowers.”

I have looked at the pictures and seen campus back when I was a kid, and I often say, ‘If only everyone could see what campus looked like before Kent’s time, they would understand how far it has come.’ My goal is to have an impact like that by the time I leave.”

Beyond his role in the work itself, Buhler (pictured right) comments on Willocks’ role in shaping people. “Kent has been a great mentor in both the technical aspects of this job and the spirit behind it. He taught that the focus of our work isn’t just efficiency or quality for quality’s sake, but to truly embody Colossians 3:23 that says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.’”

Toward that end, Buhler brings his own set of images and driving forces to the task. “When it comes to applying my faith to this job, I really love the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote,

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.

He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

“But in my case, it’s not ‘the hosts of heaven and earth’ that I want to comment on my work, but the audience of one, THE one, who will hopefully say on my final day, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

While Willocks final days on campus approach, the University pauses to add our “well done”. In the meantime, Bushnell’s beautiful campus incites awe and generosity. A few years ago, the University received a gift of $42,000 with no name attached. With respect for privacy, the Advancement Office set out to find and thank the donor for this significant contribution. After some discovery, a story began to unfold of a woman who would walk across the Bushnell campus frequently. Two influences inspired her generosity. First, “The students and faculty were always so friendly,” greeting her along the way. And second, “The flowers were so beautiful in every season.” She added her voice to a common refrain. “Oh, Bushnell? You’re the place with the flowers.”

Willocks is both humble and honest about his role as an impact player at Bushnell, citing another influence that informs his calling and impact. “I had no idea how my affinity for J.R.R. Tolkien would prepare me for faith and my calling. While Tolkien’s fantasy world is pre-faith, it’s written from an ethical system with moral victories that are unique to the Christian faith. Tolkien had the concept of sub-creator, joining God in the work of creating. He coined the term effoliate, or to bring something to leaf, as opposed to exfoliating.”

Tolkien also penned the term eucatastrophe to describe that moment in a story when, at the darkest moment, all seems lost and the enemy seems to have won. Then a sudden "joyous turn" for the better emerges and delivers a deep emotional reaction in readers: "a catch of the breath, a beat and lifting of the heart" (excerpts from On Fairy Stories).

Kent Willocks' retirement appears to be such a moment – a hard departure leaves a dark void. But his commitment to sharing his art and passing the torch brings us a “joyous turn.” The expanding mission of sub-creating goes on, for the sake of putting God’s creativity and beauty on display.