By Rebecca Dailey
It seems impossible that I once sat writing about coming to Houghton. I can remember a crisp summer turned fall day, being in my room working away, never thinking I would follow that particular article to write its sequel. God has a way of making things happen even when we least expect it. The original article that I’m referring to was from the September 2, 2023 issue, which doesn’t seem that long ago. I wrote about transitioning from my community college to Houghton and how wonderful it had been so far. It’s been a full semester and we’re four weeks into the second semester with a whirlwind of new experiences.
I’ve learned, and not only in class or practicum, which is required for Education majors (it simply means I’m out in the field in a school setting). I’ve learned a lot about myself and strengthened my relationship with God. I come from a very religious family, but it didn’t quite feel like something for me at the time. However, the older I’ve gotten, the more I have come to understand it: God’s undying love for me, for all of us. It’s not just something we say we are, it’s something we do. We choose to not only follow God, but to actively spread His love and show grace and support to those around us. It’s not something that can be simply done like a snap of your fingers. It takes time to build a relationship with anyone, but God especially, because it is so easy to forget His sacrifices for us. However, the community of Houghton builds upon this love to bring their community together, whether it’s sports events, activities around campus, or just even morning Chapel.
The building of community has been such an important aspect to my growth in God and Christ, knowing that there are others who have walked for years and those like me who are just coming to terms with what it truly means to be a person of God. Not only coming to terms with it, but also knowing that it’s not just about reading the Bible or attending church weekly. It’s about loving everyone around you, serving others, even simply helping with homework or comforting a friend after a long day.
I was reading a book the other day called The Love Stories of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. I didn’t even pass the dedication page without pausing to stop and think about what it said. The verse came from I John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.” He loves us when we’re wrong, He loves us when we’re right, He loves us when we’re upset with our friends and even when we’re upset with Him. He loved us and loved us still to sacrifice His only son for us so that our sin could be washed away. And yet sometimes we still do things that we know are wrong but we do them in anger, loathing or envy for another person. Being purely good is an uphill battle that we will win because we have God on our side and the knowledge of His love for us.
God’s love doesn’t only directly come from Him, it comes from those around us who live God’s word and serve the community around us. The entirety of humanity is a steadfastness of God’s love for us because we are created in His image. We are created to love and to be loved by all. With His love comes our faithfulness to Him and for Him. We are God’s children and brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s who we are as people and who we are as Christians.
Coming to Houghton was probably one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened to me. I came here because it was God’s plan for me. He wanted me here because He loved me and wanted to show me that even in my darkness there is still a life with Him. There is a life for all of us as an earthly community and with God. Whether we have admitted that or not, there are documents for all of us. In those dark moments, we can either hide or we can cry out to God because He loves us to show us the way out of the darkness and into the light. We will come into the light in our own way, on our own time, but in the end we will all come together as children of God. ★
