"This is all surreal...It's like we have been here before." Those words took the breath out of me as I walked through the doors. I never thought that I would walk into this room again with the same feeling. Again, I found myself as I did almost six years ago walking through the doors with a heavy heart and incapable of speaking. The feeling of the room so similar as it was the first time. No one knew what to say, how to say it, or where to begin. We all just sat there feeling he same gut sickening feeling in silence.
As I have been through a few tragic experiences with both the Taylor Community and the Upland community, I still have seen God's love shine through. The community of Taylor University is one of the things about Taylor that I see people making a mockery of. However, it is that community that I see come together when they need each other most. I have seen in this time and the time before where we all were deeply hurt that the body comes together to be one with each other. It's not even being in the chapel together and surrounding each other but it is in the greater Taylor community. Those who have graduated who feel the pain of the current community. They surround this great body in prayer and in love and they are going through it with them. This is where I see God's love. This is where I see what community truly is.
I don't know what I or anyone else is feeling right now. We have so many thoughts going through our heads. We are in pain for ourselves and for those who were closer with him. However, I do know that in God there is hope. I know that it is easy to lose sight of hope right now, but I also know that this is when we need it most. I know that there is a love for this community that is directly through God. I know that his presence is surrounding this community and I know that he will be seen through this. I know that even through pain and suffering that it will be hard to recognize him, but I know that he will make himself known.
Ahh... praying for you, and hurting for the community. I have a hard time convincing myself right now that comfort can come, so i am praying instead for protection of peoples' hearts and minds.
ReplyDeleteThis whole situation immediately reminded me of the passage in Philippians 2:
"Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."