Staying Strong Through Faith

By DCE Shelly Schwalm BA ‘10

It’s been a rough few months. We all know this. We’re reminded moment by moment in the world, in the news, in our own homes and lives of the bitter pills of sadness and disappointment we’ve faced in this time of pandemic.

While it’s not helpful to ignore or invalidate the hardships of our students, our community, and our world at this time, we would be tragically remiss not to take account of the sweet moments amidst the bitter that we would not have known, had the word “COVID-19” never been uttered. We don’t pray for the bitterness, nor credit God with its coming, but we do take note of the sweetness, knowing his grace and love are present for us in the midst of it.

Thursday, March 12, the CSP community was notified that inperson classes and activities would be online for the remainder of the semester. Within an hour or so of this news, I arrived back to campus, leaving a concert that had not yet started. Finding emotional seniors planning one last Thursday night chapel service, I sat down with them to help plan. Just then a couple of senior students who were part of Spring into Dance, the annual dance recital at CSP that has become quite the production, burst into the door of the Fellowship Center. “We’re doing Spring into Dance in an hour! All the routines as is!” An hour later, through teary eyes, a gathering of students cheered on their fellow students through mostly choreographed dances, without seamless sound or light cues. There were lots of “sorry this isn’t done” or “we know it’s not perfect, but here we go.” It was fitting for the night. Nothing was as it ought to be that day or this semester. This joyful commitment to dance anyway was quite the send off as students left campus in the days following. Even in the early hours, there was no lack of resilience.

That same evening, a group of students migrated to the chapel for one last Holden Evening Prayer service. Lots of seniors grappling with no last 908 in the chapel, no last singing of “E’en So” with Christus, joined to sing and pray one last evening service, speaking the Blessing of Celtic Daily Prayer to one another, a CSP favorite. When one of the graduating seniors couldn’t quite make it through cantoring the closing blessing, she was quickly met with a few friends to sing along and strengthen the song.

On Saturday morning of that week, a student sent Pastor Tom and me a message, wondering if we could have some kind of worship since most churches had already decided not to and maybe we could spread out outside somewhere on campus, since people were grieving the loss of community and the semester and could use some prayer and Scripture. We acted quickly with some song sheets and chairs spread on the patio and Sunday morning, just before many many departed campus campus for home, we worshiped in the midst of the storm, naming God’s kindness in a world that seemed anything but. Strong connections with students—even some we'd not met before—continued as we checked in on them and learned how they were checking in on and caring for each other, too. People who may not have otherwise were able to “attend” chapel and hear about Jesus. We know the Holy Spirit is still moving. What a sweet spot.

We started doing Fight Song Fridays in chapel, and many students told us that was the best part of their week. Pastor Tom and I clowned around with upbeat singing and dancing with pompoms, singing, “On Concordia, On Concordia, let your colors fly.”

With no in-person commencement, several teams and departments made the best of fun arrangements to celebrate grads in their sphere. I, too, missed commencing for my Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing this spring, but was surprised by three friends with a backyard party and a Facebook event full of videos and messages from students, former students, classmates, and friends from all over. Class of 2020, we are among the few who can say we graduated in backyards, living rooms, and driveways. While not what we imagined or expected, these were deeply memorable moments not without love or joy.

While we don’t know what’s next or how all of this will unfold, we do know a couple of things. First, God is with us—an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Even if separated, we are not alone. Second, God’s grace is sufficient for whatever comes (2 Corinthians 12:9), to provide, bring peace, and waste nothing from all we experience. Even in bitter trials, grace promises sweet spots. May we keep looking for them as we keep going. On Concordia!