See You at the Pole at MCHS: A Beautiful Sight!

This morning was 'See You at the Pole', the day thousands of students across the country meet around their school's flagpole.  Students gathered together to pray, read Scripture and sing.

But let me back up for a moment.

In our county, we have a new consolidated high school--a coming together of three smaller high schools to form one large one.  This is its first year.  It has been in existence for approximately six weeks now.  At first, there was much controversial and resistance to the idea of these three schools coming together.  Let's face it, we people like our comfort and don't really like change.  We don't like it when someone comes along and wants to shake our world upside down.

And so before the first day of school, there was lots of talk.  Talk that there would probably be lots of fights.  Talk that the students wouldn't mesh well together.  Talk that the sports teams wouldn't get along.  Lots of naysaying, which is normal and expected when a huge change is about to take place. 

So the first day of school arrived.  A day including a pep assembly, a slide show and a principal pumping up his students by busting out some dance moves.  Mustang t-shirts were given to each and every student.  Students left on day one with a sense of belonging and ownership...a new community was being built.  


The first football game was so well attended that it was standing room only.  People had to park off campus and be bussed in from remote locations.  Students filled and overflowed the student section, painted up with crimson and black.  A new community was forming, meshing together and meshing together well.  

While I'm sure there were some issues and problems here and there, all in all things were running smoothly.  There was an overriding spirit of positivity and excitement.  

These were the things we saw from the outside.  

What we didn't see on the outside was a stirring and a gathering of students coming together in prayer on the inside of those walls.  From the beginning...from the first day that those double doors opened to a flood of students, a group of heads were bent, flooding the throne room with requests.  

This group didn't form to pray on that first day of school only or just once a week.  While that would have been a notable and worthy goal, this group aimed higher.

This student-formed, student-led group decided to meet daily, each morning before the start of school, to offer up petitions for their school and classmates.

And what began as a handful, grew and expanded until forty, then fifty, then sixty-plus people were in attendance.  Soon they will be designating one morning each week to have a student-ran Fellowship of Christian Athlete's meeting.  

I have stood back from afar and watched all of this unfold, my heart overflowing with Mustang pride, not so much for all that is happening on the outside (although that is all very good!), but for all I see occurring on the inside.  

For what transacts on the inside can't help to overflow and affect the outside.

So, this morning my heart swelled two sizes too big when Eric brought home the pictures from 'See You at the Pole':

And my mama heart filled with joy to see so many cross country runners in this crowd, including the one leading worship.

It excites me to see a group of committed prayer warriors rising up and leading their school.  It excites me that God's Spirit is moving in this place.  Praying he continues to multiply His workings on this campus, raising up strong, committed ones for His cause.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.   Psalm 145:18

And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.  Psalm 50:15

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Psalm 4:6-7

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing. in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thess. 5:16-18

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  2 Chron. 7:14