Initiantion

So last night we initiated the freshmen and transfer students who were fortunate enough to land on our floor in our dorm. What we girls do is wrap scarves around the freshmen's eyes and then lead them across campus and make them do all sorts of crazy things like running around in circles, hugging trees or passing boys, or jumping up and down in the middle of a flower patch.

But then, while they're still blindfolded, we lead them to the memorial prayer chapel and take them into one of the large gathering rooms, and remove their blindfold. Our floor's chaplain, lovingly known as DA, does a small devotional and explains why there are bowls of water and towels on the floor and why the upperclassmen are kneeling in front of each new girl.

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew his house had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were int he world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but my hands and my head!"
--John 13:1-9

Servant leadership. That's one of the big buzz words going around Taylor's campus. Along with intentional community. In this way, we are showing the freshmen and new students that we accept them, and that as upperclassmen, we are here to serve their needs. To lend a shoulder to cry on if they get homesick or stressed. To listen to their worries, answer their questions, and advice their troubles. This is more than just saying "You've been initiated!" This is saying that we've accepted them and the responsibility of being good sisters in Christ to them and to each other.

But if Christ did it, why shouldn't we?