After ACF info session today, I was putting away stuff in UC 303, when I looked out the window and realized that house wars was starting and the freshman were making their entrances. As the mob increased and the united chanting of each freshman dorm began, another upperclassman next to me made an interesting comment. He said:

“This is the last semblance of community you will ever feel!”

This comment got me thinking. When the freshman had entered, I was actually a bit envious of them. I wanted to be down there with them shouting and running around with my “crew”. And it’s true, thinking back to my own house wars, the sense of group unity and community was so strong during house wars. We were morewood. We had our funny chants and our awesome outfits. When we ran on, we were pumped and ready to bring home the gold for the yellow team.

I know that people had different experiences with house wars, but for me it was a lot of fun. And for a second I agreed with the upperclassman. That was the last time I would feel such a strong sense of belonging and community in my life…probably.

However, suddenly I was reminded of the truth which I had just experienced earlier during ACF info session. We began worship today with “All Who are Thirsty”, one of my favorite openers because of it’s chorus. And when we began the first verse, I expected a meek chorus to be accompanying me. However, I was hit by the full force of 40+ brothers and sisters lifting their voices our God. It instantly brought a smile to my face.

I realized that while it is true that for many people, house wars will be the last time they experience such a strong sense of unity, belonging, and community. However, for the children of God, we can look forward to an eternity in heaven praising our God in stronger unity, firmer belonging, and perfect community. Instead of shouting silly chants like “How much wood can a woodchuck chuck!? Morewood! Morewood!” We’ll sing/shout “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!”

How much greater and more wonderful will that be? I believe unimaginably more. And what’s cool is that we can see glimpses of this even while we’re here on earth, like I experienced at ACF info session.

So I close with this verse from Philippians 2

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:1-11