Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Today, Feb 14th, the campus is a sea of red and pink hearts, sweet stuffed animals, long stemmed roses, and, of course, lots of candy—it must be Valentine’s day.  Love is on the minds and in the hearts of many students.  Classmates and friends all over campus are exchanging hugs and “I love you”s; The University is bursting with the joy brought about by love that is true and real, regardless of the superficial and commercial nature of the holiday. That overwhelming love and joy should be constant, especially during lent—God’s love is, after all, the reason for the season, as the constantly quoted John 3:16 points out “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love is truly unconditional, and He shows it in every moment and every facet of being. It is, then, our responsibility to reflect that love like the sea reflects the sky.

            Certainly, to love as God does, unconditionally, is no easy feat, but really, that’s a good thing. We do not take for granted that which challenges us. Therefore, I challenge the University as a whole, including myself, to look towards everyone with love this Lenten season, the same way we look with love towards each other on Valentine’s day; the same way God looks towards us with love. If everyone does this, by the end of Lent, no one in a five-mile radius of the school will have any doubt that he or she is loved, no matter what.

Cailin, Class of '16