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Ichabod!

2000-03-22 17:13:48

((begun on tuesday))

they tell me lauren is dying

so many things are going thorugh my mind, lord. yesterday it was the possibility of a call to ministry. today it is the srength of the students as we pray for lauren. tomorrow it will be my PAL kids. i want to use the opportunity to discuss with them what they might feel about death and dying or what they feel about friendships, since all of the posters for lauren say

friendships are forever

a.c. just gave an impromptu prayer service for lauren. and today klb said that her prayer book just opened up to a certain page and it was an appropriate prayer for today. ts hard to believe in coincidence at times like these. its comforting to believe that things happen for a reason.

when i came into the chapel this morning i didnt expect to find anyone here. but i met mr. c at the door and inside 5+ rows of pews were filled with juniors. and they were crying. i asked sr. cathy what was going on and she told me "lauren is dying." i never knew lauren but watching the students in the chapel, i started to cry. i told sister this and all she said was "that's compassion."

i went to the chapel again this morning and it was full. a sea of red sweaters. we were informed the night before at rehearsal that lauren died that evening. i knelt in a crowded pew with some juniors. someone in the front started singing and i cried and cried. teachers were there too crying with us.

i guess one girl went without breakfast or something to be there early because she fainted. everyone cried more while the teachers rushed to help her.

at PALs, they didnt really want to talk about it, so i just let them know that if they wanted to talk, wed be there for them. we did discuss some though, and i think some trust was built this session.

i went to see dr. k seventh period to discuss the gear ill need for wyoming. afterwards we talked about the situation with lauren. i know theres a lot of peer support going on, but she thinks that more should be done to offer counseling, with a sort of open door policy.

then we talked about college. she made me really excited about the possibilities.

then there are the songs. this morning in chorus we sang psalm 23 and "on eagles wings" for lauren. in the musical, think of me is being dedicated to lauren. tim and i have a better idea. seasons of love. i made copies of the lyrics for my PAL group this morning and even sang some of it for them.

"It's time now to sing out, though the story never ends. Let's celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends. Remember the love."