Prayer Vigil

I apologize for leaving up such a negative post for so long, like I said I have been extremely busy and I just did not really have the words to say-or the time-I started a post but had not finished it, and this is what I had written:

As the details of the tragedy on Monday at VT have unfolded, there have been so many thoughts that have run through my head and heart. As I have read over many of the biographies of those who died-there seemed to be so much talent, passion, intelligence, and dreams that passed away with them. It just breaks my heart that none of it was necessary

We all know death is part of life, as strange as that sounds. It is inevitable-those of us who are living will all pass away some day, but of course it seems to hit closer to home when there are so many unnecessary deaths at one time, especially when most of them are young people who had very bright futures ahead of them...

Since writing that last Tuesday, we began planning a prayer vigil that was to take place Monday night in the ampitheatre here at ACU. I had the task of finding 33 different people to read each biography. Then, I also brought together a biography for each person. The original document that was sent to me with the bios was somewhat impersonal and seemed to leave out the essence of some of their lives...so I set out to do some research to gather more information, get quotes from their friends and family; and find pictures for each one. I spent most of 2 days gathering the 33 people needed to help with the vigil, and the information for the biographies. It is almost impossible to not be transformed by that process-the more time I spent researching and reading about these special people's lives and looked into their faces, the more invested I became and it was if their story became part of mine.

Fast forward to last Monday night at 9:00 when the vigil was supposed to take place-we decide to move the vigil from the ampitheatre to the auditorium in the Bible building because the wind was picking up, there was lightning, and it looked like there might be a storm approaching. We move all of the candles inside (which had the bios and pictures taped on them), set them up around the stage, most everyone who had agreed to read each bio had arrived, we had everything ready to go and the vigil began about 9:05. Jeff prayed, Matt was almost finished with his speech when Mark came down to the front where I was sitting, looked at me and said that it looked like the storm that was going to miss us was now heading straight for us and that we were under a tornado warning...and that we needed to get everyone out by 9:30. It was 9:20. I looked at him and said that we did not have time to read the bios and we sat there for what felt like 10 minutes (although it was only a few seconds) debating on what to do next. After Matt finished, I got up and read what I had planned on reading and then said there was a change in plans. Mark got up and told everyone what was going on and then I look back and see Jeff (who is the acting dean of students) and he motions me to come to him, and then tells me I need to go back to my hall RIGHT then...so, I grab my purse, grab my 3 RA's and some of my girls who were there and we rapidly go back to the hall. It is lightning, the wind has picked up and it does look kind of ominous...so we go back and get everyone down to the 1st floor hallway where there are no windows...

We did not even have a drop of rain!! In fact, I looked outside and you could see the moon and the stars. Can I tell you how frustrated I was? Granted, I am thankful that there was no tornado, but I could not help but be mad. I had spent 2 days working on this and just felt very invested in it. Because of that, I really wanted us to have a chance to honor their lives and lift them up in prayer. It was a really sacred event-it was really amazing to me as I was asking people to read the biographies how they would respond-they kept telling me how honored they were that I would ask them and how appreciative they were. That was so touching-it was hard to describe-their hearts were just so open and it was special.

I am grateful for that, but dissapointed we were not able to complete the vigil. However, Mark said it was incredible as people were coming up, picking up a candle and reading about each person's life-that is awesome. My beautiful friend Alva got it right when she said, "It may seem that the night was interrupted, but it was a beautiful thoughtful time. In a sense, the weather reflected how quickly life changes and our plans change, just like theirs did".

So true...anyway, we continue to pray for the families, friend, administrators and all of those who have been touched and affected by this tragedy. May the light of God shine through even brighter than ever...