Bonfire

I'm a day late, but 10 years ago, as most Texans know, the Texas A&M University tradition of building an enormous bonfire as a symbol of "every Aggie's 'burning desire' to beat the University of Texas in football" ended suddenly at 2:42am when it collapsed. I'm not familiar with or privy to Aggie traditions, but I can appreciate that the traditions are what make part of being an Aggie great and feel like being part of a large family. When the bonfire collapsed in the early morning hours of November 18, 1999, I would have been a junior in high school. I don't remember a lot about the news coverage at the time, and I feel like just now in researching this tragedy I am learning many details for the first time. The difference between being 15 and 25, I suppose. I do remember it happened on a Thursday, and we happened to have a Thursday football game that night against A&M Consolidated High School. We wore maroon and white ribbons on our drill team uniforms in memorial and support. I can only imagine how different the experience would have been for anyone attending A&M at the time - Amanda's post from yesterday sums it up well.

Jeremy, my news hound, was doing some reading on the bonfire collapse this morning and sent me a picture I won't soon forget. I won't post it here, but it's a picture of the bonfire's 12th victim. In this picture, he is alive and pinned under several logs. From several accounts, one including an email from his sister after his passing, this Aggie had gotten promoted to work on the top tier of the bonfire that year. The student who took over the 12th man's old position survived. Several people attempted to help the 12th man, but he refused and directed rescuers to other victims. I suppose we'll never know what he was thinking in those moments pinned in the bonfire rubble, but I do think he might have been aware of his injuries and the good he could do for other victims in his remaining hours on this earth. Another account stated that a medic who was trying to attend to him was in an emotional state at the scene that lay before her. This 12th man grabbed her arm and began praying for her and the other rescuers. In the end, the 12th man was the bonfire's 12th victim, after 11 others and 27 injured.

I think in any tragedy such as this one, you sort of hope there is a story with a greater meaning to be found. Maybe it's just me, but in something so tragic, I need to cling to those stories in which you can see some light in all the darkness. I am sure all 12 victims and 27 injured Aggies were wonderful and well-loved people, and this is just one story. In the 12th man's last hours here, he spent them glorifying God and showing others how to do so in the midst of such a catastrophe. I can only pray in learning about the 12th man, that I can live my life with similar grace.

"...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness..."

2 Corinthians 12:9