Show him you care

The Feb. 12 resignation of Bryan Clifton, our Student Association president, has sparked opinions across Harding’s campus.

During the past week it’s been a hot conversation topic and has shed light on issues that play out on our campus throughout the year. One student felt strongly about letting Clifton know that people were praying for him. He started the group “Show Him You Care.”

This group encouraged its members to change their Facebook statuses to “Praying for Bryan Clifton,” tagging his name so that it would appear on his page.

I thought this was a great way to encourage him, and it made me wonder why we don’t do this for other students who leave Harding under similar circumstances.

I have known many students who have been suspended from Harding, as I’m sure most of the student population does. How often, though, have you seen the outpouring of prayer and encouragement for those people?

I’m not saying that the showing of love and concern for Clifton wasn’t great; to me it was inspiring. If we would do that for every student, regardless of who they are or why they were asked to leave, we would truly be the Christians that God calls us to be.

Not every student who leaves gets the chance to make a resignation speech in chapel. Often, if you’re outside their circle of friends you might not even notice that someone is gone.

So this is an encouragement to get to know people, show concern and to love and pray for them as so many of you did for Clifton.

Every one needs an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on — be that person. Be the people that love unconditionally. Show him you care.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.”— Matthew 5:13-16