May 6, 2008. Approximately 7:45 p.m.

City firefighters are called to Our Lady of the Lake University after a campus police officer reports heavy smoke on the fourth floor of the Main Building.

More than three hours later the Lake community was still watching in disbelief as the flames that had engulfed the top of the Main Building were finally dying out.

May 7, 2008. Approximately 9:00 a.m.

Students, faculty, staff, alumna and community members stood again on the lawn of the Library and stared across 24th Street taking in what was gone but more importantly what was left.

The building still stood and luckily as cleaning crews have been able to get in news that not all was lost was spread.

As treasured personal belongings were pulled out of the wreckage by professors and students everyone on campus, from those with offices and homes away from homes located inside of the Main Building, learned valuable lessons.

Most importantly we seem to have a better understanding of what it means to take something for granted.

Last Monday we could have complained about the lack of working computers inside of the English computer lab on the second floor of the Main Building but today with only operating computer labs located in the library we realize how fortunate we were for the computers that did work.
 
A misunderstood verb choice by the San Antonio Express-News angered many on campus who had probably been voicing the same issues for some time now.

We all have complained about rising tuition bills, falling enrollment and administration but today no complaints are heard rather nothing but praises and support as a time for rebuilding is upon us.
It sometimes takes something that could be described as miraculous to change people’s minds and despite it sounding oxymoronic the fire last week may have been just that. In the wake of this tragedy a miracle has happened, students’ faith in the Lake has been restored.

There is a new sense of community on campus and lots of hope. Hope for the future and the faith that despite the losses we have suffered Providence will pull us through.

As we were reminded at last Wednesday’s prayer service there is a time for everything. Now that the dust has settled and a sense of relative normalcy is returning on campus it is a time to remember what it means to be a ‘Dillo and how much the Lake means to all of us.