It seems the world already knows since I’ve been receiving phone calls and emails from just about everybody I know, but I still feel the need to at least talk about it a little here.
I work at Taylor University in Upland, IN. Wednesday night, a van containing dining commons employees and student workers was struck by a semi. Out of nine people in the van only four survived. I’ve been out of school for a little while and I didn’t know any of the students personally. However, they were faces I definitely recognized as ones you see around from time to time. It’s so hard not to be affected by this, no matter what your relation is to the situation.
Yesterday was just an awful day to be around. We had a service in the chapel yesterday morning and there were probably six or so, I’m not sure exactly how many, cameras setup with news crews. This was the first time I’ve ever really thought about news cameras. It kind of pissed me off. Yeah, I’ve always enjoyed being able to turn on the news when tragedy strikes. I’ve never really thought about how that news gets to my TV or favorite news web site. I don’t want to personally attack any of the reporters here because I don’t know any of their intentions. The cameras being setup, the crews zooming in on the faces of everyone walking in, and the reporters trying to ask people how they seemed like a very very very very very insensitive thing to do. I had several students tell me they were just waiting for somebody to get in their face so they could break a camera. The service went very well though. It was so sad and moving. I could just close my eyes and feel the pain in the room. It hurt.
Besides this tragedy, there are also a couple other incidents where students have recently been hurt. Earlier this week, my friend Moser’s fiance was rushed to the hospital for an emergency 7 hour open heart surgery. She continues to get better but the right side of her heart still isnt’ functioning. She’s actually in surgery as I type this right now. They’re going back in to see how everything is working. Also, I found out another friend of mine, Mark, got in a car accident yesterday. He’s doing ok though. I was so glad to hear that.
So today is Friday which also happens to be the inauguration of our president. He’s actually been around for a while but it’s sort of like when you vote for the president of the United States in the fall and they don’t swear him/her into office until the spring. It was decided that things would go on as scheduled, but the events are being re-purposed. Instead of fanfare filled with ‘hail to the chief’, the ceremonies are going to be much more subdued and with a different focus. There are supposedly thousands of people coming for this. This is the third president I’ve seen here on campus since I first came and the second inauguration I’ve been around for. I don’t remember the last one being such a big deal.
So anyways, things are hard. I’ve felt like I’ve been getting pulled in so many directions by so many friends and colleagues. There’s just not enough time to get things done. I was up til 3am this morning just talking and hanging out with people. I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m looking forward to sleep. I’m looking forward to not seeing pain on everyone’s faces.
I hear you, brother…
I liked what you said about the news camera. I can\’t imagine what it must have been like at Taylor. I\’m sure you just wanted to get away and to pretend like it didn\’t happen. I think if you\’ve been a student at taylor in the past 3 years or so, you were probably affected by this. I mean, I knew one of the girls who was killed and I\’ve been out two years.
Take care and hope to read more of your blog ON blogspot now!
I’m sorry to hear of all the unpleasent things going on around you. Sometimes we can’t understand why, but we just have to trust and be faithful. I hope you can get some rest this weekend and become rejuvinated. And remember that there is always someone looking after us, even when we don’t know it.
Lupa,
It’s been a couple days since I’ve been on, so I didn’t get a chance to respond when I wanted to. I know it was really tough to see the cameras on Thursday… God knows I sympathize. But remember that a) it’s their job, b) they were only trying to help draw a connection for the rest of IN and the US to have with us, and c) some of them were doing their best to be as sensitive as possible. There were some who were really being jackasses, but on a good note, two of the individuals that were bold enough to actually come into the ceremony were so moved that they got in touch with some people about what it means to be a Christian. It was a tough time for us, but this touched a lot of people because of those cameras.