Strangers on Campus

Rev. Brandon Blacksten

May 17, 2025

Reading

Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Reflection

We often have to come to the end of ourselves before we are ready to receive the transforming grace of God. I was reminded of this in a small but powerful way yesterday. My daughters and I had driven to OU’s campus for a dance recital dress rehearsal.

We were running late, and in our hurry, as we were getting out of the car, one of my daughters cut herself. The injury was not serious, but it was bleeding a lot, and I had my hands full with costumes. I got the girls settled in the grass near the car, and grabbed some Band-Aids and napkins, which were not sufficient, but they were the extent of the first aid supplies I had in my car.

As I applied the Band-Aid and began to wipe away the blood, two students walked by and asked if they could help, but I told them unless they had a first aid kit, there was probably not much they could do. They offered to go to the dance rehearsal (which we were supposed to be at) to ask if anyone had one, and I gratefully accepted their offer.

Shortly after they left, a staff person walked by and asked if we needed anything—he had a first aid kid upstairs in his building. I told him some people had gone to get first aid supplies, but thanks anyway. He started to walk away, and then came back and asked if the people who had gone for supplies were students. I told him I thought so. He said he’d go get his first aid kit since students may not have access to one.

He came back first with his kit, and the antiseptic wipes were much more effective than the napkins I had. The gauze and tape were also better than the Band-Aid I had used. The students came back not long after with Band-Aids and paper towels—not really very useful, but I appreciated the effort. One of them–a medical student–helped apply the gauze, and they were great about talking to the girls and taking their minds off the situation. As we made small talk, we learned they were even from Edmond.

I finished with the clean-up, put the supplies away, and thanked all three of them. I was overcome with gratitude. The situation would have been much more challenging without their help, and the only reason I had the help was because they pushed me to accept it when I had initially tried to brush it away. I needed help receiving the help I needed.

So often our life with God is like this. When we are struggling, we feel like we have to figure it out and act like we have things together, like we don’t need anyone else’s help–even God’s!–when our refusal to accept help is the very thing that is keeping us stuck.

The good news, though, is that the grace of God comes to us in innumerable ordinary ways—even as strangers on campus who offer to help and won’t take no for an answer.

Prayer
God of salvation,
You come to us as we are
And offer us new life,
But often we try to hide our need
And pretend that we
Are wholly self-sufficient.
While you don’t force yourself on us,
You wait patiently for us to surrender
And allow your life-renewing grace
To rush in.
Help us to lay down our defenses
And freely receive the life
Only you can give.
Amen.