Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., of Utah

Why would I be writing on this blog about President Obama's choice of Governor Huntsman as abassador to China? Because the governor's explanation for his affirmative response to the president's request rather captures what this journey has been about:

“When the president of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation and the beginning of the obligation to rise to the challenge,”

I encourage my doctoral students to do word substitutions with articles and books they read (something I learned from Jason Raley, my dissertation director). Some substitution can be done here; "a provincial of the Society of Jesus who knows you and the stirrings of your heart" for "the president of the United States," for instance.