Bridgewater, Va. – The 1960s rock band, The Byrds, have a song called “Turn, Turn, Turn” that has been playing through my mind recently. I find this song to be quite fitting of the season that we are currently in as college students able to come together again and partake in the activities that we once might have taken for granted. 

The song repeats the following chorus and then proceeds on to this second verse :  

“To everything, turn, turn, turn,

There is a season, turn, turn, turn,

And a time for every purpose under heaven.”

“A time to build up, a time to break down,

A time to dance, a time to mourn,

And a time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together.”

I believe that this is our time to rebuild, dance, and gather — within the guidelines, of course. 

As a community, Bridgewater College has much to celebrate and appreciate. Over the last couple of weeks, students have been able to once again hear the excited voices of their classmates as they engage in thoughtful in-person class discussions, feel the rush of the game-day atmosphere at the Jopson Athletic Complex with the victory of the football team, and taste all twelve flavors of the hand dipped ice cream in the KCC. 

Not too long ago, there was a time when not one of those things would have been possible. So I would encourage us all to embrace this season for the simple pleasures and moments of bright joy that it presents.

Slow down and soak in every late summer sunset from the lawn, every bit of wisdom and encouragement from professors, and every laugher-filled dinner with friends around full KCC tables. 

Ultimately, turn from a season of weariness and towards a season of appreciation.