Childhood Dreams

The entire world knows what happened in our community - and unfortunately happens around the world - earlier this year. Unless you have lived in the State College area for an extended period of time or especially if you are a Penn State graduate then you will never fully understand the turmoil of emotions these events have brought to the people in our community. It's more than the surface stuff that the news stations reported to you. It's so much deeper, the pain, the repercussions.

Joe Conrad and Ronnie Byron - both Penn State students and part of the worship team at Calvary (Ronnie  is an HSM alum!) - wrote and produced this song called "Childhood Dreams". Please give it a listen, I've included the lyrics here:

"Innocent community. So naive.

Standing firm in your beliefs, and your perfect dreams.

Then one day it fell apart and sent you flying through the darkness.

You were broken-hearted.

Heroes falling from our skies amidst the cloud of hurt and lies.

You can hear their cries

Though the world may fall apart

keep these simple truths inside your heart.

Cause when your childhood dreams seem to crumble at your feet,

fall back on your beliefs and be free.

There will be monsters in this world and they will get what they deserve.

Just remember they do not decide your worth.

When your trust is gone and you feel betrayed, and you've lost your way.

When others fail to see you through, we will grieve with you.

Mistakes are made of skin and bone just know that you are not alone.

We can overcome.

A light is coming through the dark to let you know the healing starts.

We will sing it out.

Though the fall from grace is hard on us

you better believe that we will find the strength to rise again

Cause when your childhood dreams seem to crumble at your feet,

fall back on your beliefs and be free.

There will be monsters in this world and they will get what they deserve.

Just remember they do not decide your worth.

Can you feel the hope that's rising,

voices calling through the lies and

people join together as one not to rest until our works done

In you lies the strength to rise and

we will never leave your side for

love has come to show us the way. Hope can be found in a new day.

Cause when your childhood dreams seem to crumble at your feet,

fall back on your beliefs and be free.

There will be monsters in this world and they will get what they deserve.

Just remember they do not decide your worth."

Please don't judge us, our community, or our school because you don't understand - you never will - and that's ok. Instead please pray for us; for grace to be shown to us and that we show grace to the members of our community that need it, pray for healing of the victims as they fight to find their new normal, and that light continues to be shed on the horrible issue that is child abuse, because it will never, ever be ok.