Even So We Speak: A Final TIU Reunion

 

The morning after my Trinity International University (TIU) reunion and I'm sipping coffee out of my cobalt blue TIU Alumni mug...still smiling. 

It's been a minute (ok, 18 years) since I graduated. However, the sense of pride and nostalgia at graduating from a university that has always put Christ at the center has never waned. TIU's mission "to engage men and women in God's redemptive work in the world" shaped and grounded my faith in ways I still carry today. 

Weatherwise the day was beautiful. A little windy, but the sunshine warmed you on your way down memory lane. I was met with recollections at every turn as I walked around the campus from my old my dorm building (Madsen 400's), The Lew, Melton dining hall, Waybright center and Rolfing library. 

I remember my first time as a prospective student. The unexpected sense of belonging I felt.  Looking back, it's not just the campus, but the professors who made it what it was. I may be biased, but I had the best English professors. Dr. Baxter, Professor Fleming and Dr. Graddy poured wisdom, guidance, and care that left a lasting impression on me. 

  (Dr. Gaddy and I. With 37 years of teaching at TIU, he has touched countless lives. I'll be forever grateful.)

The reunion itself was thoughtfully planned down to the smallest detail. They had fans with the scheduled posted, two delicious meals served in the dining hall, a reunion worship service and a 2nd evening worship service.  

During the first praise and worship service, they had a time for alumni to speak about what TIU meant to them. One by one several alumni from all decades had similar messages about how their time at Trinity felt like home.  And I realized I wasn't alone in how I felt. 

There was a unity in the room, a connection of not just our shared educational experiences, but living out our faith through worship. The heart of what Trinity has always been about. It made me think in the Gospel of Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Eighteen years later, Trinity still feels like home. I'm grateful for what was built in me while I was there. It was a wonderful God-honoring day with reflection, connection, walks down memory lane and maybe a few happy tears shed.