The tragic events of Sept. 11 have shaken each of us to the core of our being. Our emotions have swirled in many directions, from disbelief to anger, to uncertainty about the future, to a deep concern for the victims, their families, and all those involved in the rescue efforts. We continue to pray for our world, our country, other individuals, and ourselves as we adjust to the impact this has had on all of us.

More than ever is this a time for us to rally together. How? We rally together as we take care of one another and find strength from each other.

People do make a difference when our foundations are shaken. If we make a conscious effort to connect with someone new each day to see how they are doing, we will find our shared burdens become a little bit lighter.

I received an e-mail written by a HPU graduate who was near ground zero at the time of the tragedy. He reassured us that all of the HPU alumni he knows who work in the area survived the event. He wrote, “I hope that none of us will ever have to experience this again for as long as we live. Please, whatever you can do to help others in need, try to do so because every little thing is a good thing.”

Strength is also found in our faith. Wherever and whenever people gather to pray and worship, almighty God meets them with his love and peace. Whether we pray in our residence halls, the Chapel service, on the mall, or in any of the houses of worship that surround us, we are enveloped in the loving arms of our living God who knows where we hurt and brings us together. Praying together is a great source of strength.

The writer of “Romans” Chapter 8, provides us with words of comfort and hope. He writes that neither tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are in good hands! May the Lord bless us as we face the future.