September 12, 2025 "A Collective Sigh of Relief"

It wasn't just me, it was my surroundings that took a deep breath and slowly let it out.   I’m not sure we realized that we were all holding our breaths during the manhunt.

This morning as I arrived at one of the UVU “dorms” (student housing not owned by the school) it felt as if I had stepped into a bygone era (you know 2020).  It was absent of any noise or life as if this bustling home for thousands of students had vanished into thin air or just the students did.

The reason I later found out was that many had gone home to safety and the ones left behind had homes that were too far away.  Those left behind were hiding out in their rooms awaiting the end of the manhunt.

They eventually started emerging from their dorms shielding their eyes to the brightness and breathing in the air of safety that had been sucked out of our community in a split second on Wednesday.  “Family City, USA” no longer felt like an appropriate moniker for our town.

In every conversation, I heard each story akin to how we speak of 9/11.  Everyone spoke of the exact spot they were in at the moment it happened as if the vividness of it was inescapable and those seconds run unwillingly in slo-mo on repeat in their heads everyday.

“I was in the Hall of Flags.  Here’s the video I took 5 seconds before the shot.”

“I was there but got hungry and was looking for a granola bar in my bag, so I didn’t see it.”

“I had just turned around for a few seconds when it happened.”

“I wasn’t there but I couldn’t get in touch with my sister who was on campus, and so I just ran to campus because she isn’t good in these situations.”

“I was in line to ask a question near the canopy…and I saw all of it.”

It seems weird to say, but what a gift it is to be entrusted with their stories and their concerns.  It feels as if we all have passed the stranger stage and immediately were in the friend stage because of our shared experience.  It seems to give us all a connection we would not otherwise have.

We will head to another “dorm” tomorrow and do the same thing, and then next week we will head back to campus. So continue pray for us as we love, serve and pray for students and faculty and thank you all for the prayers you have already given.  We all feel them.  

And thank you to those that have provided funds.  Our staff was grateful today when I was able to bring them lunch so they didn’t have to worry about feeding themselves while tirelessly serving students.  

I truly believe all of you are the best and we are just the fortunate frontline workers with 1000s of you behind us in this battle for the souls of our campus.