What I Know...

...I was shaking scared on Thursday afternoon.
Sitting in lockdown listening to the constant wail of sirens.
And the first Twitter post I found that oriented why our Thursday was interrupted:

And a few minutes later the second SPU ALERT email confirmation that none of us could believe:

We sat on the floor. In the dark. And we prayed. And waited.

And from the hours that have unfolded from those scary, heart-breaking, tragic moments - here's what I know...

...Going back to campus on Friday to be with students and the community was, almost, indescribable. I didn't know what to expect. My own nerves bubbled about returning to work, but once there it became so clear that our God reigns in the midst of chaos {gathered from Instragram #prayforSPU}:

...We gathered as a community and lamented

"Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkness in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away."

...And I am filled with God's word to us. One that I chose to focus on in January never dreaming of the depth it would sink in and surround me.

"Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav'nly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end."

And I know that we are surrounded by an incredible community...

The Queen Anne community residents brought their dogs down to campus for students to play with. 

...In the middle of everything God is still calling our hearts to forgiveness and remembering.

If you feel compelled to help you can give here.

Or hold those close to you a bit tighter and send love into your community:

I know that we all agree that human flourishing is a good thing to strive for. In that light, I wish the very best to you and your loved ones and encourage you to pick one person today to shower your love on. Your love is the embodiment of good, it is the healing agent, it is the antidote to fear and suffering. It is the only transformative force in the universe. Not as an emotional “high” but as a stance toward being that unifies heart and mind. --Stamatis Vokos, SPU Physics Professor, full post here.

Or send up a prayer, a letter? a post? for the hurting family that is now walking a strange path as their son faces the reality of what he has done. The hurt he has inflicted. I imagine it looks like a dark, narrow and lonely path for all of them. What if we extended God's love into those dark places too? 

O God, we pray for the one who 

perpertrated this midless act of violence.

Deal with his troubled soul,

love him in spite of his hatred,

and bring him not only to justice

but to repentance and spiritual wholeness.

~part of the liturgy read at SPU's prayer vigil

And thank you. Your thoughts, texts, emails, prayers, phone calls have meant so much. 

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

Wait upon the Lord

Wait upon the Lord