August
19, 2002
Excitement, anticipation, and many
fun activities filled Opening Weekend at Hesston College, as new and
returning students arrived on campus for the first day of classes Monday,
August 19.
A convocation Friday evening, August
16, established the theme of "Building and Celebrating Community"
for the weekend and the school year. In his meditation, President Loren
Swartzendruber said community means that "the Hesston College community
takes each person seriously. We believe that every individual is created
by God with special gifts and abilities."
Another attribute, according to
Swartzendruber, is that this community "attempts to care for every
member among us. Referring to the biblical phrase, 'When one among us
is hurting, we all hurt. When one rejoices, we all rejoice,'" he
said, "That doesn't automatically happen. It can't happen unless
we are honest with each other."
Swartzendruber also noted that the
Hesston College community has existed since 1909, a long-standing community
with thousands of stories. "Yet," he said, "it is as
new as tonight and this weekend."
Faculty and staff also shared how
they experience community inside and outside of classes, in the residence
halls, and across campus.
During the Opening Worship service
Sunday August 18, Bonnie Sowers, director of the college's nursing program,
focused on one concept that is essential to living in community--the
value of integrity in our journey together as children of light. (Sowers
was ill, so her message was delivered by her administrative assistant,
Marilyn Unruh Flaming).
"Becoming a person of integrity
means being whole and undivided," Sowers claimed. "We develop
it by narrowing the distance between what we say and what we do, and
increasing the amount we care for others and ourselves."
Sowers pointed out that many passages
in the Bible relate to integrity. "A translation of the word integrity
in the Hebrew language is to be 'level,'" she said, "to be
level or straight with myself, with others, and with my God."
In contrast, Sowers noted that "to
be dishonest or to live a lie darkens our path. When we live a lie,
what we tend to seek along the way is that which is a lie, rather than
God's truth and light."
Sowers admonished her listeners
with the words of Harold Kushner in his book, Living a Life that Matters,
"For the person of integrity, life may not be easy, but it is simple:
Figure out what is right and do it." Sowers added, "When determining
what is right, Christ's life is our measuring stick."
Sowers also emphasized that integrity
is a choice given to us by God. "Every day we choose to make decisions.
We can respond automatically out of habit, " she said, "or
we can consciously respond, using our minds, hearts, and courage."
Students
made many choices over the weekend--registering for classes, moving
into dormitory rooms, making new friends or being reunited with old
friends, and taking part in orientation activities. Parents also had
a number of activities to choose from.
The final community-building activity
of the weekend was the annual fun-filled Mod Olympics Sunday evening
on the soccer field. Even "Elvis" attended, sang several songs,
and topped off the evening by hosing down willing students, thanks to
the help of the Hesston Fire Department.