Written by Jessica Ardrey
In columns past, I have typically used my space and the few minutes you so graciously give me to generalize Harding’s student population and poke fun at it. Let’s call it a good-natured skewering.This week, however, I’m taking a break from the norm.That’s right, Harding bros and bettys. This column is going to be nice.Surprise, huh?This column will not be literally dripping with sarcasm, because I know how you hate having to clean it off your club jersey every other Friday.(Disclaimer: I am making no promise that this column will be sarcasm-free. It just falls out of my fingers sometimes. Can’t help it.)So to begin the softening of Mr. Hyde, I will first say that this campus is a campus of givers. It’s what we do. As Hardingites and Christians, we give.We sent 200 tents to Haiti in five days. Five days. I don’t care who you are, that’s impressive, especially considering we’re a bunch of broke college kids and not Oprah.However, the fact that Haiti is a thousand miles away prevented us from demonstrating our megapower: physical service.Whenever Bisons for Christ rolls around, people fly into super-duper service mode. Social clubs, friends and groups of the most random people you could ever find obliterate the precious Harding Bubble. They go forth.They serve. They do good.Go ahead and pat yourselves on the back, kids. You might be used to doing things with your home churches, but for college students to take time from our homework and friends and club stuff?That’s legit. Go Harding.This past weekend, students again went all over Searcy and the surrounding area to serve in the SA’s newest campaign, “Celebrate: Kingdom.” Celebrate, we did. Nursing homes, Berryhill and laundromats were all crawling with us. We cleaned, we babysat, we worked hard. We made people smile. We did good. And it was awesome.And then there’s Relay for Life. I dressed up as an alligator. That’s weird. But we all wore ridiculous clothing and we walked. All night. But we kept going because we honestly cared. Honestly.However, we have to be cautious. When we’re doing good things, we know it. It’s hard to forget that sometimes, and we end up almost becoming numb toward the real reason for our service.At last year’s Relay for Life, I lost my perspective. It was about 4:30 in the morning. I was so cold, I couldn’t function. I was sitting in the wet grass with a large number of people in the same state as I.I was miserable. I was tired and hungry and shaking. I felt unbelievably sorry for myself.That’s when the speakers at the football field crackled on. Somewhere in the mush that my brain had become, I recognized the opening piano riff. We all slowly turned our heads up toward the speakers.It was Journey. “Don’t Stop Believing.”At that moment, I came back. It was the most surreal thing. I felt like an idiot for whining about the chill of the night air. I didn’t have cancer. I was just a jerk.That’s when I stood up and got back on the track, along with that large number of people, who I’m positive had the same realization.So here’s the deal, boys and girls. Keep giving. Keep serving. Keep your perspective. Keep up the good.JESS ARDREY serves as opinions editor for the Bison. She may be contacted at jardrey@ harding.edu
