Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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A Bird in The Hand Ah. Living Wind, all powerful. Sacred Energy accessible to God-forgetting orphans, to greedy, gluttonous, guilt-laden, grounded gulls, weeping for wings broken, waiting for what? They that wait upon the Lord shall mount up with wings, as the Righteous One. risen with healing in His wings. They that wait. are they not of more value than birds of the air that neither sow, nor reap. nor gather into barns? Yet the Heavenly l-ather feeds them, and His eye is on the sparrow. David Shel.'ey Thor Hansen

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1 passages of servanthood They descended from the bus: a mob of frightened, screaming, happy. sad. lonely, running, pushing, shoving children. They tumbled into the small gym where Bethel's volunteers waited with smiles of welcome. They ran toward the students and embraced them, clinging onto legs and arms, searching for warmth. The once quiet room became full of shouts of joy and anger. Some played keep away, but with fifteen individual teams it became a rough scramble for the ball. Gazing emptily at the wild action in the center of the room were several boys and girls who sat silently. In another corner, a handful of children had surrounded a student. Laughing and hugging her. all five of them tried to sit on her lap. The kids and workers in the middle of the room had changed games. They formed a square, and holding hands they tried to kick a ball in between each other's legs. One small ruffian kicked the ball as hard as he could. It smacked a black girl in the face. She cried. A student comforted her. The game continued. When the children had gotten tired of the game, the students sat them down and started a few songs. Each student had five or more children around him. The children climbed all over the students, each one trying to absorb more love and warmth. Once a few songs had been sung, the students started telling a Bible story. Today they recounted the time when Jesus calmed the storm that almost upset the disciple's boat. The students surrounded the group of children, forming the shape of a boat. Amidst giggles and laughter some children on the outside of the boat” acted out the waves and the storm, while a student narrated the story. At the end of the story, the children split up into groups of four, with each group led by a student. The middle-aged group was led by a student who asked the kids what they thought the meaning of the story was. Some children remained stubbornly silent. while others gave their interpretations. The student asked the children to share something that really scared them. The children teased each other, daring anyone to speak up. Finally one boy mentioned nonchalantly that some dogs scared him. The student tried to explain that Jesus is with us always and continually protects us. The children nodded, almost in unison. Yea, yea, their faces said, we've heard that one before. They already knew all the answers. A little frustrated, the student led the children in a few more games. The lunch was brought in. They ate noisily, tr ing to steal extra cookies. Doug Bcrkey