Tanner's Journal « First-Year Student Journals

Spiritual Approachability

November 24, 2005 | 7 comments

A high chirpy beep and dim flashings of light disturb me from my dreamless sleep and cause a slit to open in my weighted eyes. I turn on my sore back (abused by Ultimate Frisbee and a late night trip to Disneyland) and reach to silence my spastic cell phone alarm. I lift my legs over the edge of my bed this cool Saturday morning and slip into some sandals. I cant be late.

No, I dont have a class. No, there is not chapel on Saturdays. Today, my great quadmates and I in Stewart hall are organizing a Day of Prayer for the spiritual needs and victims of hurricane Katrina. Since Monday*, nearly every soul at Biola has been burdened as to how we can make an impact and use this catastrophe not to restore living conditions, but to reach unsaved souls. Friday afternoon, my friend and I began planning a time of 24 hours of prayer for the victims. We schemed to create a sign-up sheet and wanted to have at least 5-20 students praying together for these people every hour from 8 A.M. Saturday till 8 AM. Sunday.

Although we had support from our RA, the student government, and administration, our dream had one flaw: the fact that we decided to advertise and initiate this event twelve hours after we planned it. As I shuffled over to the picnic tables where everyone was supposed to meet, I found them abandoned, all except for my roommate. Despite mass campus e-mails, our last minute advertising was not very effective. Such are the results of being overly ambitious.

As my friends and I make plans for a more successful time of prayer and even a possible missions trip to New Orleans, I feel that my efforts this last day reflect a great deal regarding the character and attitude of student life at Biola. The point is not that Biola students dont care about prayer meetings. No, today illustrates quite the opposite.

At a Christian University, you might expect to find one of two things: either a bunch of study-crazed anti-social people, or a seemingly secular student atmosphere. At Biola, people have not been anywhere in between. They have been leaps above.

Biola is uniquely comfortable in that each student is approachable. Better yet, students here are spiritually approachable. In high school, I couldnt turn to just any youth group attendee after a message and discuss the speakers presentation and interpretation on deeper levels. And although not everyone at Biola is a Bible scholar, everyone does seem to realize the importance of learning and discussing the Truth. For one who has grown up in a public school, being surrounded by such a body of students simply makes me smile.

With still so much time ahead of me here at Biola, I cant wait to see how these God-provided relationships will continue to grow. The college experience, and Biola especially, is all about a people connection. And thicker and stronger connections are clearly in the future for me.

*Monday, October 17th

Comments

Laura said... on Dec 5, 2005

This doesn't have much to do with what you wrote, but people tell me that, at Christian colleges, a fair amount of non-Christian stuff goes on (partying, drinking, etc.). How frequent would you say that is at Biola? What about the school would you say makes it that way?

Beth said... on Dec 8, 2005

My high school actually went on a mission trip to New Orleans, and most wanna now go back. I've seen the pics and it's really heartbreaking, but I hear it's one of the best experiences you'll ever have. I couldn't go because I was helping with a play, but luckily we're planning to go again. Also, I was just @ the December Biola Bound, and omgsh everyone there is so nice! ok well keep enjoyin your freshman year!

Tanner said... on Dec 8, 2005

That's a very fair question. In terms of drinking and things of that nature, Biola students are under a contract not to drink, smoke, or even dance during the school year (however "organized performances" of dancing are permitted, not sure how that works...). After a semester here, I have not meet anyone that I personally know who engage in partying and breaking the contract. There are absolutely NO parties of the nature you are discussing on campus ( if there ever was, campus saftey would be all over their tails), however, I have heard that that is not always the case off campus. Granted, this also isn't in the specifically Biola owned apartments either, but in students private rented homes. No administration can control the behavior of every single student here at Biola. However, although I too have heard that many "Christian" schools are heavy with partying and drunkeness, Biola really does largely attract students with have no desire to participate in these activities. Five months of school, and I've had no party invitations, not have I even been aware of anything happening, off campus or on. From my expereince, involvement in those kinds of temptations and sinful struggles must be deliberately and insistantly pursued. Hope that helps!! God Bless!!

Laura said... on Dec 13, 2005

It does help. I'm glad to hear such a good report of Biola. Thanks

michelle said... on Dec 22, 2005

I remember seeing you when i was at Biola bound...and everyone played the pillow game with that ryan kid...that is so irrelevant to what you wrote but i am so excited to see if i get accepted..hope i find out soon. It's sweet to hear how people are so approachable-i'll anticipate that like crazy!

Tanner said... on Jan 3, 2006

Great, I hope you hear back from admissions with good tidings as soon as possible!!! It will be great having you at Biola, and I'm glad you had a great time at Biola Bound. I will actually probably be writting a journal entry here on a Biolan's perspective of Biola bound, although having been to one, you probably know what its like for us...fun! And the "ryan kid"...well, I think meeting him is simply an experience beyond words. Have a great new year, and God Bless!!

Mindy said... on Jan 9, 2006

is swing dancing allowed???

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