See You At The Pole
by Steve West on December 15, 2021
At the end of my college career, I walked on the campus of the University of Maryland for the thousandth time. Near the chapel, in front of an administrative building, stood flagpoles bearing the flag of the State of Maryland flying slightly lower than the flag of the United States. Annually, in September, students are encouraged to gather at the flagpole of their school and pray, an event called "See You At The Pole". Constitutionally, schools are prohibited to sponsor prayer meetings but students are able to organize events themselves. I went soon after hearing of a grassroots event held in Texas. It had not spread wide enough to yet reach Maryland because at 7:00 a.m. on this chilly morning, I was alone.
I had recently been awarded my Master's degree and had come to express my gratitude to God for His guiding hand. Today, crowds assemble on an international stage in Canada, Korea, Japan, Turkey, and Cote d'Ivoire among other countries. But on that particular day thirty years ago, only one brave man was present to pray alone. I prayed for the school, my family, friends, church, and community. And God heard.
It's almost certain that others were there that same day as I, it's a rather large campus, certainly with many more flagpoles. I only went for a few scattered years, my life taking me away from campus but the number of students attending grew each year with the last one in which I participated numbering a few hundred.
I say to myself each year that I should go but life intervenes as it's wont to do. Maybe next year...
One Reply to See You At The Pole
Web Junkie
Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »
Death, Taxes, and You're Wrong
Recent conversation with Brenda: Brenda: Does the sunset look strange to you? It looks like the sun is in front of the poles we're passing. What would cause that? Go »Such As It Is...
Best stuff I found this week. Cowbell Hero - since I've mastered Guitar Hero. Rock star mug shots. Go »I'll Take Potpourri for $1000, Alex
Mix of the best stuff I found this week. More drunk pwned photos. Do you dress like a douchebag? Go »Do Pumpkins Exist Outside Of These Fall Holidays?
They should. I love the taste of homemade pumpkin pie. I almost didn't marry Brenda when she told me she couldn't make one but I thankfully reconsidered. Go »Turn Left At Alpha Centauri
So you've been abducted by aliens. How on Earth (literally) are you going to get back home? Fortunately, you are a forward thinker; a planner; an "any room I enter I have an escape route" thinker. Go »
Scott Hardie | December 22, 2021
I had never heard of this tradition until now, but then, I was an atheist in college. Regardless, I really like the idea that people all around the world are praying at the same time in the same way (allowing for time zone, right?). Wikipedia has info about the movement if you're curious like me. Steve, I appreciate you mentioning this, and I hope that you do get around to going again.