Written by Morgan Proffitt
Last summer, the executive officers of the Student Association were considering what the theme for our upcoming school year would be. When we eventually decided on “celebrate,” we began eagerly planning ways to encourage a spirit of optimism and excitement within the student body. Whether we celebrated people like the dorm moms, those who hang the Christmas lights, or the students and professors working with NASA, we as a community engaged in the discipline of celebration.
Cultivating any sort of discipline takes practice and intentionality, and we as a student body have been working to do that all year. Considering our current predicament, I am starting to wonder if that was for a reason.
Now, as we sit in our separate homes and see each other only through the screens of our computers, we may feel as if there are few things to celebrate. The spread of a pandemic is awful, and this is a situation that is breaking so many hearts and hurting so many people.
However, I believe there are still reasons to celebrate in the midst of this darkness, as long as one is willing to recognize them. I want to remind us all (including myself, especially) that despite the uncertainty of our world, we serve a God who is steadfast and faithful when everything else is not. Lean on him and practice resting in his presence — all the fulfillment we will ever truly need. Part of how we as a community can do that is through intentionally choosing to look at and notice how we see God in the midst of everything that is going on right now. A beautiful way to rest in God’s providence is by simply noticing how good he is.
I firmly believe that Satan loses power when we say things out loud, so speak your frustrations and anger, but also make sure you voice your gratitude and celebrations. Don’t let anger and resentment at the current state of things build up, but instead temper your heart with celebrations that come from many places: flowers, Zoom, friends, professors, the internet and even toilet paper.
I hope this time can be one where you find encouragement in the midst of trials, but I am also not naïve enough to think that some days might not yield much motivation to shout for joy. In those days, seek to remember moments where you noticed God, and use them as reflections of light for the time spent in the dark.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
