The Lobby

Just a little over six years ago, a small community formed in Patton Hall. It consisted of a random group of freshmen. They ranged from musicians to businessmen to nurses to scientists. They were from all over the nation, and they all had different stories to tell. From the outside looking in, there did not seem to be really anything they had in common.

Well except for one thing…

They sat in the lobby for 8+ hours every single day.

The “Patton Lobbsters” as they called themselves, were a strange bunch. Folks came and went, but these core members remained in the lobby until all hours of the night. Some of them fell in love with one another. Some of them went off to distant lands, only to find a space in the hearts of each member to return to.

The Patton Lobby was probably the most influential community of my undergraduate career.

Folks often asked me why I would sit in the lobby all day. People seem to find it strange that a group of people would stick together after hours and hours of seemingly meaningless card games, YouTube videos, and conversations.

Then again, folks find it strange when we choose to stay.

Folks don’t like to believe that things last anymore.

There are many answers that one can give for staying in the same spot on the same couch for an entire academic year, but they rarely encapsulate the value of the Patton Lobby and the Lobbsters. It wasn’t until this past weekend at a Lobbster Wedding that I realized why I chose to stay in the Patton Lobby.

I think we stayed in the Patton Lobby because we knew that we would not only be able to love one another, but that we would also grow to love one another even better.

We became better people in the Patton Lobby.

This weekend my closest Lobbsterette married her best friend, a fellow Lobbster. Their relationship is quirky and cute and challenging and faithful and so many other things. As the perpetual third wheel, I watched the two grow to love one another better and better. One would come out of their shell, and the other would learn to keep things in order.

Opposite though their love may be, they complimented one another in order to love one another to the best of their ability.

Not only that, but their love goes outward.

Although there are certainly aspects of their relationship that are kept between them, my lovely friends always welcomed others in to their world, even if only for a little while. This weekend, I witnessed their families welcoming not only one another, but also welcoming each and every community which entered the wedding venue. I was a complete stranger to most of them, and they hugged me like I was their best friend.

Love builds a community that extends outward, but it retains a certain specialness that no one can touch.

Because God put that love there.

As they put so beautifully, “It would be stupid not to”

I think we stayed in the Patton Lobby for a similar reason. It was not romantic love which kept us there, but it was love nonetheless. Given to us by God, each member of the Lobbsters had the opportunity to learn more about the love they could give to the world. I cannot speak for every member, but I know that I grew in confidence, grace, and courage in the Lobby.

All it took was staying in that space and letting each member of the community be themselves.

And when we left the Lobby, we let that love go outwards.

We welcomed souls in to the Patton Lobby. Some would stay for a while and become permanent members of our little community. Others would simply wave with a smile. Still others thought we were insane.

It didn’t matter.

Everyone belonged in the Lobby, even if they didn’t believe it.

Sometimes all it takes is one more minute to change your world perspective. Sometimes it takes one more hour to change your heart. Sometimes it takes one more semester (or three) in a lobby to remember that no matter who comes in to the community that they are worthy of the same love you received.

So maybe the Lobby was a little weird.

But it was perfect.