Orientation

For as far back as I can remember, I have hummed along to my parent's music in the backseat of our family car. Though my parents had a wide variety of cassette tapes, it didn't take long for me to develop a list of my favorites, nearly all of which were musical soundtracks. Naturally, I have had various songs come in and out of my list of top favorites, such as "Oklahoma!" and "Singing in the Rain."

One musical's repertoire has always stuck out: The music from the production "Les Miserables." Perhaps too many times I have danced around my bedroom singing and acting out the powerful songs about the injustices of life from the show. However, it was not until I saw the production on Broadway this past December that I developed a true appreciation for the depth of the lyrics. I had always understood the theme regarding the plight of impoverished citizens, but as I watched the characters interact on the great Broadway stage, I saw much more. Towards the end of the musical the lead singer performed an impressive ballad that included the line "to love another person is to see the face of God". As I sat in tears in the theatre seat, in awe of the purity and sincerity of the line, I was taken aback at this unique perspective.

With several months to stew over the meaning behind that particular phrase, I have come to see that though my summer is just beginning, my job for the next few months is proving to be the ideal place to observe the truth identified in the song. I have been selected to serve on Texas Christian University's Orientation Staff for this May, June and August. My fifteen fellow Orientation Student Assistants and I currently live in a campus residence hall and spend the days assisting first-year students and their parents in every way possible as they make the often tricky transition to college. The first two weeks of our summer were spent training for the actual orientation sessions. Now, at the beginning of June, we have begun the process of welcoming in every incoming student and their family, with the ultimate goal of helping them create their first academic schedule.

Naturally, all this time together has given the sixteen of us the opportunity to form deep bonds. We know more than each staff member's morning caffeine needs, and their nightly bedtime routines; we see their true personalities and hearts. These other fifteen individuals have become much more than my coworkers. They are my summer family, and as such there is a deep sense of love in our community. Following the lyrics from Les Miserables as my insight, I have found that the love between us is much more than merely a human experience. Instead, it suggests a connection with the divine, for if we each hold a piece of God within us, then it can be said that when we see a person for their inner beauty and worth, we are catching a glimpse of God. I believe I have seen God in many ways so far, quite often in the smallest of moments. From the simple encouraging pats on the back to the thoughtful acknowledgements of my feelings at difficult times, the staff has surrounded me with the care and consideration that I imagine my redeemer longing to offer me.

In another way, I have discovered a love for each and every first-year student and parent that comes through orientation. Realizing that this is a challenging time for every student and parent, our staff works tirelessly to make their experience nothing but positive. Despite our best efforts though, the nervous feelings are written on every person's face, the fear and intimidation in each freshman's eyes during schedule preparation painfully clear. Furthermore, the anxiety level notably rises in each parent as the minutes of their son or daughter's departure from home creeps closer. In both of these cases, it would be impossible as a staff member to not feel an immediate sense of compassion for their situation. Consequently, my interactions with every person on campus reminds me that our relationships can reveal God to us in more ways than simply finding Him in the actions of others. The emotions that are evoked within us by the personalities and reactions of those around us show a beautiful side of the Lord. In my experience, we can often surprise ourselves and express the pieces of God that we have identified within ourselves.

It is my hope that over the next few weeks as I complete more orientations, that I will continue to experience the special moments in which God is revealed to me through the love and relationships built with everyone around me. I can also only hope that in some small way I can extend the comfort of God's love to everyone I interact with over the next several weeks. When I look back to this summer in my later years and question whether this job was a right choice or not for me, I will know without a doubt that while this job is wonderful for a great many reasons, it is the moments that I am finding deep spiritual meaning in the observation of the many faces of God that will make this a truly unforgettable summer.