Life, Frailty and the Importance of Community

There is so much to talk about today, friends.

I have good news: I am the proud recipient of a scholarship from the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation - $1,000 toward my graduate studies next year; and I'm also the proud recipient of the "James Huckins Award for Outstanding Graduate Assistant" for 2007.

I have sad news: We had a student die in a car accident on Monday night, as she traveled to her grandmother's house to study for finals. Her name is Caitlin Creed.

As I sit here at my desk, I can look out the window and watch the happenings of Collins Hall. Collins Hall is a women's residence hall, housing almost 600 women - mostly first-year students. It was Caitlin's hall. Last night Caitlin's best friends packed up her room.

As I look out into the parking lot today, Caitlin's friends and a few of my friends on the Hall staff are loading up her possessions into a car to be taken to her family today.

And now I watch as one of the moms of her friends drives the truck away.... and I think about how frail life is, and how valuable.

This week has brought with it grieving weather. Ever since Tuesday morning it has been grey and raining off and on. It makes me think of Psalm 18 and how when David was being opposed he called out to God and God responded immediately, he was angry for David - on his behalf, and he stormed down from heaven. David says that the Lord rode bolts of lightning and his shouts were like thunder. And this week every time I hear the thunder and see the lightning I think of how God is grieving this loss with us. When the rain comes down in torrents, then back to drizzle, and then takes a break - I think of the cycle of crying that some of these students and adults are experiencing - weeping, worn out and unable to cry any longer, resting, then weeping again.

We are frail and vulnerable. But lives aren't supposed to end like this. And so we grieve, because we miss Cailin. We grieve, because we don't understand "why". We grieve, because we know that it could have been anyone.

This week I was priviledged to see community spring into action - it was Caitlin's friends that packed her room, the hall staff and residence life community that stepped in the night we heard the news, the university ministry staff who helped out wherever there might be need to talk or pray. Caitlin was a Tri-Delta sister, and it was amazing when I recieved an email from another sorority's chaplain letting me know that she was organizing a time of prayer for Caitlin's family, friends and sorority sisters - and it was more amazing to see the variety of people that attended the prayer time.

I am blessed to be a part of this community. And this tragedy reminds me of how important my friends and coworkers are to me. It reminds me of the value of life - and living my life in every moment for God's glory.

May we all experience the awesome power of God today - in deliverance, in comfort, in peace.

Love, Tiff