Hello, Spring?

More than a few students prayed for the reprieve of a snowstorm during midterms, but it came in an overabundance.

It is safe to say the weather has put campus a little out of sorts. Sure, a lengthy spring break was desperately needed by many as exhaustion mounted and motivation drained, but valuable class instruction or hours of work—except for the valiant campus service workers—have been lost.

The resulting power outage in Heritage Hall created a unique obstacle. Rooms grew slowly colder while fridges warmed, students leaving for mission trips were forced to carry laundry up to Manor, and once the sun went down, Heritage hallways were difficult to navigate without a flashlight. Then the lack of internet prevented students from finishing assignments. Electrical difficulties set the fire alarm off twice in the early hours of the morning and tired students trudged out into the cold to wait.

Yet, the troublesome events did not prevail unopposed.

Amid this black-and-white world, the Cairn community became abundantly apparent as joy battled stress. Resident students filled cafeteria shifts when commuters were unable to travel to campus. Friends helped each other dig out cars so they could be on their way. Snowmen began to populate the yards. The laughter of bored students flooded the MAC well into the evening. The Great Room became a midnight gathering of fun when the power outage persisted.

Stress cannot maintain its grip when undefeated laughter resounds. It is the mark of a firmly rooted community.

It’s the way yellow lamp light makes you feel warm while snow swirls through the sky. The lamp shines every evening, but it is dearer when the building across the street is an obscure row of glinting dark windows. Fellowship is always there, but it means so much more when inconvenience and darkness threaten.

Let us stand as an undefeated community as finals week draws near. Until then, the snow may have set back classes, but it has proven the Cairn community to be one of love and adventure.