I won't complain. I won't complain. Before I know it, I will be wearing long johns and huddling around my little kerosene heater. I will long for these days when I'm scooching my chair into the shade of a topiary, sweat dripping down my back, hoping the students don't mind soggy hugs. We had some lovely cool and less humid weather in August, but today was like a sauna at the prayer station. Not that I'm complaining! One student came up and sat down beside me to chat for quite awhile - dressed in a suit. I didn't understand why he wasn't melting. He walked over to where the Student Assembly was handing out free cups of Rita's Italian ice and brought back an orange one for him and a strawberry one for me. A perfect day for a sweet icy treat!
A new faculty member stopped by for a prayer and said her two best friends from back in Kentucky are Episcopal priests. The Catholic priest walked by and said I was braver than he was - it was too hot for him to sit outside today. I also had a couple of students come by to ask for prayers about their ministries. It never ceases to amaze me how much these CNU students long to serve God. I feel privileged to be able to be a companion to them on their spiritual journeys.
The first hour I sat in the direct sun, but by 1:15 the sun had moved behind the DSU, and I was in the shade at last. Not much breeze today, but I was close enough to the doors that when the students went in and out I would occasionally get a blast of A/C blowing my way. Shortly before I got ready to pack up, a young woman and her friend came over. She said, "I just want to thank you for being here and providing prayers for everyone. I brought you a muffin. I didn't know whether you'd had lunch or not." She held out her hand, and in it was a large blueberry muffin. My heart melted, and not from the heat. These students are so generous. I asked her if I could say a prayer for her, and she said I could, so the three of us prayed, and I sat down to eat half of my muffin.
Isn't it amazing how God provides? I had been wondering how to deal with meals today since I'll be here until after 9:00 tonight. Lo and behold, a generous soul with a blueberry muffin appears and offers me sustenance. And it tastes better than how I imagine manna would taste!
Last week the flowers around the topiary were yellow marigolds. Today they were fuschia-colored New Guinea impatiens. Constant change at CNU. I went to visit my friend in the Admissions office, just inside the DSU and discovered the office has moved to the new Christopher Newport Hall. So I trekked over to say hi to her in her new building. Quite fancy but far away from where I sit now, so I probably won't see her as often.
Seniors gone. New freshmen walking around. Admission office moves. New faculty arrive. Ebb and flow. It's the circle of life. I was glad to see that a couple of students who I thought had already graduated have just now become seniors - so I get another year with them after all. Looking forward to another good year.
No comments:
Post a Comment