“Keep your eyes open for ways you can know support,” my counselor said. He was bringing our session to a close. I had unloaded a trunk full of sadness, disappointment, and anger that had collected over the previous three weeks.
The mother and father of a UCBC student had died within hours of each other–one from shock at the unexplained death of the other. Burglars had broken into a staff member’s home, stolen his computer and personal effects, and beat him. The brother of a friend had been robbed. Several members of the UCBC community were sick with malaria or typhoid. The challenges of slow Internet, no printer paper, and more tasks than people to accomplish them hung heavy every day. News of senseless attacks on civilians greeted most mornings.
Wearied with it all, I had given squatter’s rights to disappointment, sadness, and anger. Those feelings had unpacked their bags and settled in my soul. As we closed the session, my heart felt lighter. I could face a new week.
Andy’s closing words, “Keep your eyes open for ways that support shows up,” proved prophetic. They nudged me to shift my gaze and look to the outer edges of each day.
Two days later, a group of UCBC alumni visited Pascale, the student whose parents had recently died. They came to pray. They also gave him money for his tuition. Of their own accord and out of their own limited resources, they had taken up this collection
Later that week my housemate suggested I reach out to a friend who, two years ago, had been a source of encouragement. I followed the advice, sent off an email, and received words of comfort in return.
The next afternoon a friend informed me that my home church in the US had raised money to help me buy a much-needed car.
The morning after that started with a FaceTime call and laughter with one of my daughters.
Conversation with a UCBC teacher sent a shiver of joy through me as we talked about his love of teaching on another day.
During Friday’s chapel, a panel of alumni spoke on the topic, “Experiences of grace at UCBC.” They gave joyful testimonies about love, mercy, and grace as they shared with the staff and students gathered for an hour of prayer and worship. They reminded me of the gift of the UCBC family.
The week did not escape heartache and disappointment. A colleague grieved the third death in his family in two months. A young friend received the, “Thank you for your application, but…” letter from a Masters program. The daily challenges persisted. Malaria and typhoid continued to knock on too many doors. Strangled resources lagged behind growing needs. The “to do” lists grew. Regional violence persisted.
But grace peaked in and flooded each day with her light. Support showed up to encourage.
That’s what we must remind ourselves. Life overwhelms. We trudge through our days. We bump up against persistent inconveniences. We careen against devastating disappointments. But support shows up to take our hand.
Support shows up as a kind word from a co-worker or a joyful piece of music. Sometimes it appears as a new moon shining against the night sky or a “Just thinking of you” text from a friend. A colleague buys you a cup of coffee or you have a good belly laugh with a coworker. We just have to keep our eyes open and walk on “from strength to strength.” (Ps. 84.7)