This One isn't for You.... It's for us Eagles

    I'm not good with goodbyes. In fact I hate them. Especially those of a more permanent variety. So for the past couple of days I have been stewing over the latest goodbye I had to issue, to a place close to my heart. I have been dwelling on the words that could appropriately fit the situation  I find myself in, and the goodbye I have to give, and they never came. Others issued their goodbyes, and did so eloquently and in such a manner that expressed exactly what I was feeling. The only problem was it wasn't my goodbye. It wasn't my own, it was someone else's goodbye that I resonated with. I needed to say goodbye for myself. So when I say that this one is not for you, it is not intended to be harsh or to be selfish. Well maybe it is a little bit selfish. Yet, all it means is that it is my goodbye. In all it's inefficiencies, and it's lacking. It is my best description of thanks, of appreciation, of this feeling of blessing, and of the place called Bethany College.
    Sunday April 26th. That was the day I lost a home. It may not have looked like a home upon first arriving on campus, but it became a second home, with a second family. Hepburn, the place "Where friends and family meet." No truer words could have been adopted by Bethany College. Once you walked in those doors you were both a friend and part of the family. So by the time the tears started to flow in that crammed Gymnasium I knew that they were both necessary, and wanted. There was nothing else to do. Nothing else to do but sit, and cry, and listen to the testimony of a place that had touched the lives of five thousand eight hundred people directly, and countless others indirectly. After all we had all lost a home of sorts. Whether you spent one day, or you spent four or more years on the campus when you came to Bethany's campus you came to a home, and on this particular Sunday this home gave it's final farewell. Five thousand eight hundred alumni, while not that big of a number, had dwelled here at one point or another. It's not a particularly large number, but then it's not really about a number, after all it never was.
    It was never about how many came through the doors on a September long weekend, wide eyed, with parents in tow (or towed by parents). It was never about that because it was about something more important than that (Although, I'm sure there was always wishes of numbers, it wasn't the focus). It was something that the staff and faculty understood about this place. It was something that the students came to appreciate about the place. The first time you drove up that dirt rode and pulled into that building you didn't get it. There is no way you could have. Maybe the odd person sensed something, or maybe you could tell by the looks on the faces of those that had resided there before, but you didn't really know. You didn't really know because deep down it wasn't about the building, the building was just the meeting place. It was about one thing, that when you understood and experienced, that also became the most cliche thing to actually say. Community.
    Everyone knew it. It might have been because they heard that word uttered fifty some odd times in the first week. I believe that they also felt it, some for a short period of time, and some for a time longer. Yet, when you chose to give some of your time to Bethany, you were guaranteed to be a part of a community. I will never understand it, how it always worked, and how it was always tried, tested, and true. Maybe it was the faithfulness of countless staff that poured their heart and soul into every single year at this place. They weren't building into a job, they were parents pouring into their family. They, for 8 months of a year, collectively adopted anywhere from 60-120 students and set out to make sure that they were looked after, and cared for, and loved. From long hours, to long talks, to short but sweet classes (we only hoped!). They poured their heart and soul into everything and everyone they encountered. Some, I'm sure, were easier to put up with and pour into. Some took a little more work (and a little more Advil), but that never stopped them from keeping up the task and pouring into every single individual. It was for these such people that the tears fell for on this day.
    Maybe this was the example that was set by the President's and Board members of the school. The many meetings, and budgets and conversations were necessary to keep such a school up and running, so that students had the opportunity to come and experience. The many headaches, and I'm sure tears that led up to the fateful decision that all of this would eventually be coming to an end. The writing on the wall that was there for all to see, accompanied by a deep sense of loss and heartache for the understanding that the environment that they worked so hard to make the best it could be and maintain that standard, would be no more. That no more would students be able to experience the wonder and joy that existed in the halls. These weren't necessarily the front lines workers in the sense that they worked directly with the students. This isn't to say they were invisible, we saw them. They were on the front lines of tough decisions and discerning the will and guidance of God, and following where He was leading them. I will never know what happened in the rooms where those meetings took place, or the atmosphere that accompanied them. Yet, I do know that these were also on the front-lines of making Bethany the kind of place that it was. It was for these such people that the tears fell for on this day.
    Everyone bought in to this environment. Have I mentioned yet, how I don't really understand how it all worked and fit together? It's because it didn't make sense that it did work. To avoid making it seem like it was all butterflies and rainbows and something from a too good to be true fairy-tale, there were hardships, and trials, and issues that arose. There were fights, and not everyone was the best of friends (not everyone held hands and skipped around the streets of Hepburn). I don't think everyone was always even keen on being at Bethany. I've heard it said that it's in the gritty and the grimy of relationship that you truly see the face of God. This was no less true about Bethany. It was messy, and gritty, and grimy at times, but in some ways that was also where we saw the face of God. Despite these things, there was always a part of Bethany that people bought into. People almost always bought into the people. The relationships that developed and remain to this day are a testament to the kind of place that Bethany was and the kind of community it fostered. People bought into the classes and the teachings; or at least they faked that they did and hoped that Gil, Randy, Rick or another professor didn't notice they were on Facebook (FYI they did notice). They bought into the person of Jesus that was present and working within the walls of Bethany, both in the dorms and in structures that made up Bethany. Almost everyone bought into something that was present at Bethany, and that's what made it so special. It was for all these such people that the tears fell for that day.
    I took up reading the book of Lamentations as I saw it as kind of a fitting place to read in light of the sorrow that I was feeling. I was expecting a book about sorrow and grief, something I could resonate with. Yet, as I started reading this book I noticed, right smack dab in the middle, a section titled: Great is Your Faithfulness. This is not my idea of grieving, and I didn't know how to fully describe the sense of deep loss and grief alongside the incredible foundation of hope found in Jesus that I was feeling, but I wouldn't have used the word Faithfulness if you did ask me. This is what I read:

"But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness

'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul,

'therefore I will hope in him.'

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, 

to the soul who seeks him. 

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 

Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; 

let him put his mouth in the dust -- there may yet be hope;

let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,

and let him be filled with insults.

For the Lord will not cast off forever, but,

though he cause grief,

he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men." (Lam 3:21-33)

    I stood in a gymnasium on April 26th and sang about the faithfulness of God, and his right to be honored and glorified, and blessed his name. Tears rolling down my cheeks as I sang these words and reflected on four years, and countless other visits to Bethany. The words could not have been more true. I had sang many songs like this within the walls of Bethany. It was the faithfulness and blessing of God that I was able to experience in such a place, and have it change me into a large part of the person I am today. It was the faithfulness of God that kept Bethany the place it was for 88 years. No other place has had such a deeply felt impact on my life, and as a result I don't really even fully know how to say Thank You. Words don't do it justice, and I will never be able to fully explain what this place was to me. It was a home, a theater, a church, an stadium, a meeting place, a comedy club, a concert hall, and so much more. It was a place where a faithful God chose to dwell. It was the home and resting place of Eagles. 

    I read a description on a Facebook status the other day, about a month before this day would come. It was talking about Eagles and the image of the eagle used in the Bible. It spoke to me profoundly, and I asked if I could share it but for some reason I didn't right away. I don't know what stopped me because it spoke to me and touched me. I think it was meant to go here: 

Eagles are one of the most powerful creation of God, they are symbols of power, grace, superiority and freedom. 

In its own right, the Eagle is the king of the air. It dominates,and is able to do what other birds are not capable of doing.It is a skillful flyer.

God has made you, much more powerful than the Eagle, he has given you the ability to dominate the air, land and sea. You are a King, made to dominate your territory for God, why are you seeking the approval of man, when God has approved you himself, why bow and perform before political office holders, mare men, for favor. As they say in the military wake up!, stand up and stand out!, Your case is and should be different! you are the child of the King of Kings.

While other birds fly, the eagle soars.When other birds struggle with the elements, that is the wind, the sun etc,the eagle takes advantage of it, rather than struggle to gain momentum, the eagle simply studies the direction of the wind and takes advantage if it, it glides and soars, allowing the wind to take it to its desired destination.

Child of God, relax, stop struggling, enjoy the benefit of your sonship, tap into the promises of God. Jesus has paid the price. Glide like the Eagle rest upon the wings of the Almighty let him carry you as he carried the weight of the world upon his shoulders, lay your troubles at his feet.

•Eagles have unusual eyes, the eagles’ vision is among the sharpest of any animal, for example,humans see just three basic colors,the eagles see five this enable them to spot well-camouflaged prey from a very long distance. 

Where many see discouragement, failure, and closed doors may you see the potentials for promotion, success and victory.in Jesus name!.

Hear what the Almighty says concerning you child of God

[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

So thank you Bethany for everything you became and everything that you were. Despite your flaws and short comings you were a blessing and a gift of God for these 88 years. Thank you for letting me be an Eagle, both as a member of sports teams and as a child of God. After all whenever you attend a school, no matter if you're on the court (or ice) or not, you adopt whatever mascot the team boasts. Every one that walked through those doors and gave some time to Bethany was a Bethany Eagle. So I'm sorry this one isn't for you. This one is for all of us Eagles.