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Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

It is as clear to me today as it was last March 16, actually, even more clear.

I remember waking up Monday, March 16, and being frustrated. Not the best way to start your day. Not even a good way to start your day. I was in the middle of grief — grief over the fact that we had to make the difficult decision to suspend our face-to-face instruction in the midst of a confusing and chaotic beginning to what we now know well as the COVID-19 pandemic. The week before the World Health Organization had declared a global pandemic, cases were beginning to be identified in the United States, and governing authorities and leaders were scrambling to take decisive actions to protect people when very little was known about the disease.

Our Executive Team had made the decision to go remote (temporarily, we thought at the time) on March 12. We communicated that to our campus community. Friday, March 13, was our last day of in-person classes for the spring 2020 semester. The campus began to empty of people. We had also started cancelling events that we had looked forward to with much anticipation, including one where we hoped to make a major announcement about a lead gift for the first new academic building in our campus master plan.

So, my frustration and fussing in the midst of all that was not unusual or even unwarranted. It's not the way I want to lead, but, I confess, I was in a tough spot, and I was fussing asking the Lord, "Why?" "Why now?" "Why this?" "What are we going to do?" "Why?"

Part of leadership is having responsibility for things.

I want to steward well what the Lord has entrusted me to steward ("Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2). I care deeply about Union as an institution and I care deeply about all of the individuals and families that make up this institution.

In the midst of all this swirling in my spirit, I punched the garage door opener to get into my car and drive to work. All I can say is that when the door lifted, it seemed as though the birds' singing that morning had been amplified in some way. Very loudly and clearly I could hear the birds singing their song. Immediately, my mind went to Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Are you not of more value than they?

Immediately, my countenance changed. The Lord was reminding me that He is taking care of the birds of the air and He is taking care of Union and all of us associated with Union. It was such a moment of grace.

Monday, March 16, 2020, was a tough and full day, but, in my mind, I heard those birds chirping and pressed on, thankful for God's mercies. To the glory of God, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and almost every single day since then I have heard the birds singing and chirping. Sometimes at home, sometimes on campus, sometimes on videos or the radio, sometimes songbirds with sweet melodies, sometimes geese honking as they flew north (last spring) and then south (last fall) and then north again (just the last few days), all evidence of His care, provision, and love.

Union has been face-to-face again since last August.

Mitigating and distancing protocols have helped us continue to pursue our mission and pedagogical approach until vaccines became available that signal it is becoming safe to eliminate such protocols.

Reading all this, you can understand more fully why the Faith in the Marketplace luncheon on March 18, 2021, was such an important event for us. Three hundred sixty-seven days later, we were gathering as we had intended a year before. Trudy Cathy White shared an incredible testimony about her mom and the commitment of her family to share their faith in the marketplace. We were all inspired. Tom McAfee shared a reflection about his dad, the namesake of the McAfee School of Business, and then announced the lead gift for a new building at Union. We all celebrated.

And yes, as I opened my car door and got out to walk to my office that morning, the birds were singing in the morning light. God is faithful! The Lord is gracious, slow to anger, rich in love, He is good to all.