Hug Your Loved Ones Tight
It happened in a flash. A jarring alarm seized control of the projector screen, while a symphony of glowing phones ignited throughout the room.
A brief message flashed before our eyes: “Emergency: Armed, dangerous person on or near campus. Go inside now; avoid windows.”
Panic rippled through the room almost as swiftly as the alert had appeared. We frantically turned to Twitter, each of us trying to decipher the enigmatic warning. Questions surged like a turbulent sea in our minds. Did the threat involve a firearm? Had someone already been harmed? Where should we seek refuge? Amid this frantic search for answers, the grim reality of the situation began to dawn upon us: we could die in this classroom.
A month has passed since the shooting on campus, but the feeling of terror from that fateful day still feels raw and ever-present. To be so close to such an unexpected and tragic death on the college campus reminded me of the fragility of human life. You just simply don’t know when your next day will be your last. During that lockdown, I was filled to the brim with regret. Regret for failing to express my love for those closest to my heart. Regret that I didn’t do more with the time that I had. Regret that I didn’t hug my parents just a little bit tighter before moving across the country.
It became so clear to me that I had taken so much for granted. Often ensnared in the tunnel vision of worrying about the future, I had neglected to appreciate the beauty that enveloped me in the present. How lucky am I to have a loving family and kind friends. How fortunate am I to receive this education. How blessed am I to live to see another day. The hours spent confined in that dimly lit classroom crystallized a fundamental truth: life is fleeting, and it ought to be lived fully.
It is not that I fear death. I simply fear that I have not fulfilled my God-given purpose just yet. Because when my time comes to an end, I want to be able to meet my Maker and tell Him confidently, “Abba, I did it. Now, I’m ready to go home.” And as I stand beside Him in the gates of heaven, I want to rest in the knowledge that I lived my life to the fullest. That I embraced life boldly. That I gave my love freely. That I hugged all my loved ones, maybe just a little too tight.
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Emily
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