Letter From the Managing Editor
Hoppy Easter time, everyone,
I hope everyone enjoyed their spring break. I needed the break very much, and I am sure everyone else did as well. I know that everyone got a lot of rest and that, as a whole, we are all ready to get up and going again. We are in the final few weeks of the semester. For many, their last weeks of college are slowly approaching. Many long for the end of the semester, but I know that time is fleeting. Make the most out of each day and live in the moment, rather than looking to and worrying about the future. Spring is a time for celebration and renewal.
Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection in the spring. Pagan traditions widely influence many people’s Easter celebrations, but Christians use the holiday to demonstrate their love for Jesus, who died on the cross and came back for everyone so that he could save their lives. In this issue, we have an article focusing on the legend of the Easter bunny and a devotional so everyone gets excited for this holiday and everything God gave his people.
One article will suggest good ideas for activities to do during the springtime. These ideas are great, especially when things get boring around campus, or when one needs something fun to do. With the changing seasons, everyone is getting out of a seasonal slump. Music is the perfect way to do this, because humans typically match the music with their mood—or the mood they want to be in. One staff writer will focus on the way that music affects mood. Continue reading, and you will enjoy a recap of the fabulous speaker Mel Robbins from the UC Engage event. She is an insightful woman who is great to hear from. Robbins has accomplished much in life, from being an author to having a podcast; therefore, her encouragement about the future is truly inspiring because she can honestly say she made it in life.
Enjoy the Easter holiday by remembering to let your light shine. Let everything go with the old season and make everything new as the spring flowers bloom. Be at peace with your life and soul because doing this will bring you the most serenity. Remember why you are here and what you are doing this for because life passes by quickly. Until next time! Have a great two weeks!
John 3:16 ESV - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Love, Summer Mills
Editor-in-Chief
Lacie DeGough
Managing Editor
Summer Mills
Faculty Advisor
Jeremiah Massengale
Staff
Maddie Furtick
Amanda Gault
Anthony Cage Grubb
Cassidy Howard
Alyssa King
Amber Simpkins
Hannah Mae Sizemore
Emily Sloan
Rachel Wade
Front cover photo by Summer Mills
Back cover graphic by Hannah Mae Sizemore
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The Patriot is the student publication of the University of the Cumberlands. Our goal is to provide timely and original content by highlighting campus news and views.
Award-winning member of the Associated Collegiate Press and Kentucky Press Association.
Photo by Lacie DeGough
All Things New An Easter Analogy
BY EMILY SLOAN Staff Writer
by
Spring is a time in which new life emerges. From the darkness and void of the winter months comes the season of spring, that is, the renewal of all things living. Colors are heightened, new life is created, plants and animals emerge from their dormancy, and nature is renewed. This all symbolizes the rebirth of creation, a story of a lost world being found and remade by its maker.
Revelation 21:4-5 declares that God “will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever… Behold, I am making all things new” (NLT).
The world is unbearable sometimes. Everyone has experienced pain to some degree. From the hurt of a traumatic past, crippling fears, never-ending anxiety and depression, consuming doubt or skepticism, and confusion of why things the way they are, it seems like these pervasive thoughts will never end. But, friends, these things will not last forever! All of these questions and worries will be erased and replaced with everything that is new, right, and good. With Jesus, you will not be hurting like this forever. He promises that if you draw near to him, he will draw near to you and help you through your life, your emotions, and your pain. It does not matter how unworthy you think you are, you are loved and wanted by your creator. He made you for this purpose and wants to heal you from your pain.
Psalm 19:1-4 provides a beautiful analogy of creation’s relationship with the creator. This text claims that “[t]he heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world” (NLT).
Creation displays these promises through the death and renewal of nature each and every season. It silently displays the promises that God has in store for his people after they pursue him. And how much more can we glorify him with our existence? How much more are we loved by him than all the rest of his creation? We are the most important creation to God, and he promises to renew us like he does with the rest of the universe. He wants to create in us the spring of life that renews our souls and gives us a purpose. He will draw near to you, in all of his faithfulness, and he will never leave you. He longs to make you new with the rest of his creation. Will you let him?
Photos
Emily Sloan
5...4...3...2...1!
Mel Robbins Shares Life-Changing Advice at University Event
BY AMBER SIMPKINS Staff Writer
Do you feel stuck in life, but know you want to make change? Are you letting your fear and worries hold you back from taking new steps? These are common challenges that everyone faces throughout their life, but there is a way that you can tackle those difficulties, make changes, and better progress in your life. At the spring 2023 Forcht Excellence in Leadership event, best-selling author and podcast host Mel Robbins gave insight into how a person can make change in their life.
Robbins gave a very simple yet very powerful tip on how to push yourself to do the things you know you need to do, but dread doing. She titled this trick the “five second rule.” Robbins explained that when you think about doing something, you should have a maximum of five seconds between thinking about it and actually performing the task. She claimed that if you think about doing something for longer than five seconds, then you are most likely not going to do what you need to do because you thought about it too long. This is where she developed the five second rule. Whenever you know you need to do something, but you do not feel like doing it, the five second rule dictates that you count backwards from five to one. Once you hit the number one, your brain will launch into action.
Robbins shared her backstory, revealing how she came up with the five second rule. She told the audience that, years ago, she was in a very negative period in life and needed to make a change. She was close to losing her house, she was an alcoholic, and she was having marriage issues. She gave herself a pep
talk and decided to get out of bed the moment her alarm rang the next morning. When her alarm rang in the morning, she was reluctant to get out of bed, but she decided to count backwards from five and was able to stand up. She tried this method every morning for multiple days, and it worked every time. This success led her to decide to use this trick in her everyday life.
Robbins expressed that it is difficult for a person to network and accept new opportunities by only doing things that are in their comfort zone. She revealed that it is incredibly important for a person to push through the things that make them afraid so that they can make way for new opportunities. For example, a person should push through their fear and introduce themself to someone new. She introduced this idea to the audience by making everyone stand up and introduce themselves to a stranger close to them. She also pulled a man who seemed nervous from the audience and asked him to push through his fear by choosing to go onstage with her. He was awarded an iPad, presented to him by university president Dr. Cockrum. This exercise showed audience members that doing things out of their comfort zones can be rewarding.
Robbins had many inspirational insights on how to change your life. The five second rule is a very simple yet effective way to push yourself to do what you know you need to do to succeed in life. Mel Robbins left everyone in the audience with a new, hopeful outlook on life.
Photo by Lacie DeGough
Feel the Beat
The Relationship Between Music and Emotion
BY SUMMER MILLS AND HANNAH MAE SIZEMORE Managing Editor and Staff Writer
Feel the beat of the music as the wind blows through the car window on a warm, sunny day. A woman asks her lover to dance to her favorite song in the rain, and they get lost in the reverberation as the raindrops mix with the drums. Music affects our emotions in significant ways; different songs cultivate different reactions. People build deep connections with music. One song that means something to one person could mean another thing to someone else. Every person distinctly interprets music based on their life experiences. Many individuals like to group music based on its genre into playlists. Love, rock, and slow songs can all go into their own individual categories. Outside components factor into the music that people desire. Typically, a person’s mood will help choose what they want to listen to. The time of day can also affect what people listen to. Someone having a great day may hear a depressing song on the radio, causing them to feel sad. On the other hand, an upbeat song can make people feel better. Music allows some to escape their emotions just as a good book takes one to another world.
Others use music to embrace their emotions. Embracing emotions helps intensify ecstatic, sorrowful, and energetic feelings. This element of music fosters many natural moods to validate the feelings of every person. Artists relate to their audience by writing songs about how they feel, showing society that everyone shares similar experiences and that emotions are not only for certain people. If a song relates to how one feels, then it is more enjoyable. Sometimes if someone is sad, that is all they want to be, and they would like to listen to songs
to help them cry. If a person feels hopeful and excited for the day, they might only want to listen to something that will give them a positive outlook.
Genres of music can fit various settings; however, a song at the club will probably not be played at the supermarket. There is always a time and place for certain types of music. One’s surroundings are typically a determining factor in this. In church, there will be hymns and gospel music; when friends are hanging out, there will be a conglomeration of everyone’s taste, and with family, it is mostly what the parents enjoy and raises their children on. People make playlists based on emotions and make them for activities they may be doing. These can include a “Gym Playlist but You’re the Main Character in a Dystopian Series” for when the gym calls for a workout session or “Songs to Scream in the Car” when it is time for a road trip with friends, and the best vibes are needed.
Music taste is dependent upon a variety of factors, including familial structures. Each person has a unique culture and family lifestyle. Many credit their taste in music as being passed down from generations before them. Cailynn Floyd states, “I have learned to love music from bands such as AC/DC from my dad and the Backstreet Boys from my stepmom.” Floyd further talks about how she does not always enjoy listening to sad songs because of personal experiences growing up. Family ties demonstrate how personal feelings affect attitudes toward music—various mental and physical factors shape music taste. Music is up to each individual’s interpretation and should be personalized. Uniqueness is always reflected in the artists and songs one loves.
Photo by Lacie DeGough
The Legend of the Easter Bunny
Origins of the Easter Myth
BY ALYSSA KING Staff Writer
We have all heard of the mystical and legendary Easter bunny, but have you heard its origin story? According to The Pioneer Woman website, the bunny myth can be traced back to ancient paganism and the deity Eostra. Eostra was believed to be the goddess of spring and rebirth, and she was often symbolized in the form of a rabbit. Even though this is loosely related to springtime and represents rebirth and fertility, the bunny has nothing else to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As reported on History.com, eggs can represent the resurrection by symbolizing the empty tomb with empty eggshells. The decorative aspect of this holiday was adapted from earlier times of Lent. In the 13th century, eggs were forbidden to eat during Lent, which is the 40-day period before Easter Sunday. Lent is a time of fasting meant to represent Jesus’ time in the wilderness and temptation by Satan. Decorating the eggs was a fun way to celebrate the end of Lent before eating the eggs on Easter. Meat and animal-made products were not allowed in the Middle Age Christian customs during the period of Lent.
Since rabbits are able to reproduce quickly and abundantly, they are a considered to be a representation of spring and rebirth. In the middle ages, children would decorate their eggs with vegetables and liquids such as tea and
spinach, according to buildingfaith.org. Furthermore, Martin Luther—founder of the Lutheran Church and 95 theses—had organized an egg hunt for women and children to represent the moment when Jesus’ women followers found his tomb to be empty after his resurrection.
More than 88% of American families prepare Easter baskets today; these baskets include all kinds of treats. Similar to Christmas, Easter represents a time of giving and celebration with treats, gifts, and games. Children in earlier times laid out carrots for the Easter bunny in the hope of a yard full of eggs. These days, it seems that children are not taken in by the legend. Hannah Jacobs states, “I grew up in a Christian household and never really believed in the Easter bunny.” Although many children have never believed in the Easter bunny, some have. Diana Ziegler says that her parents encouraged the idea of the magical creature so that she could fill in the details with her imagination.
The legend of the Easter bunny may not be as exciting as you wished, but at least you now know why we chose the bunny as the representation of the resurrection and springtime. This Easter, remember that the legend of the Easter bunny is not what is important about the holiday. Rather, the holiday is an important reminder of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Photo by Alyssa King
Hello Spring
How to Make the Most of Sunny Spring Days
AMBER SIMPKINS Staff Writer
It is that time of the year again! The days are warmer and longer, and everything is blooming. This time of year is a great opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy what spring has to offer. Here are some ways to enjoy spring, either on campus or close to campus.
1. Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls is a beautiful state park located close to campus. The park is best known for its waterfall, but it also offers many great outdoor activities. Some of the activities you can do here are hiking, camping, gem mining, horseback riding, and coming to see the moonbow at night. If you want to fully enjoy the outdoors during this spring, Cumberland Falls is a great location to spend your day.
2. Patriot Park
This spot, which is right on campus, is a great place to spend a sunny spring day. It is a great place to hang out with your friends and enjoy a nice day outside. Patriot Park is equipped with swings, an outdoor gym, a tennis court, a volleyball court, and many places for you and a group to sit. There is also a spot where students can set up hammocks to relax on a nice day.
3. Take a walk
The best way to make the most out of spring weather is to enjoy it by taking a nice walk. There are
many places around Williamsburg you could take a walk, such as a walk around campus. You can also take a nice stroll through downtown or walk through Briar Creek Park, which is also close to campus. Going for a walk is a relaxing way to see the beauty of spring because you can enjoy the view of all the trees and colorful flowers that are blooming out at this time.
4. Windowsill Garden
Gardening is a great outdoor spring activity, but if you live in a dorm, it is very difficult to do. The good news is you can still make a garden while living in the dorms—a little indoor one in your windowsill of your dorm room, that is. A windowsill garden is actually very simple to set up. First, you will need containers that are small enough to fit on your windowsill and soil to fill the containers up. Then you plant your seeds of choice into the container. You can find seed packets and garden soil at Walmart if you are not sure where to get the items. After you plant, you just water and tend to the plants as you would a regular garden.
Spring is a beautiful season with warm weather and beautiful views of all that is blooming. Getting out and enjoying what spring has to offer is a great way to spend the sunny days that spring provides. Are you going to try any of these ideas this spring?
BY LACIE DEGOUGH Editor in Chief
This Easter season, remember that Jesus died to pay for your sins! It is easy to get carried away with fun Easter traditions that are not Christcentered, but remember to keep his sacrifice in the forefront of your mind and to praise him for it.
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6 NIV).
Scan the QR code for an Easter playlist!
Photo by Rachel Wade
Graphic by Lacie DeGough
