the wisdom of a baboon

Adult Simba: I know what I have to do. But going back will mean facing my past. I've been running from it for so long. (Rafiki hits Simba on the head with his stick)


Adult Simba: Ow! Jeez, what was that for?

Rafiki: It doesn't matter. It's in the past. (laughs)


Adult Simba: Yeah, but it still hurts.

Rafiki: Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from (swings his stick at Simba again who ducks out of the way)

White picket fences vs. boarder-less goals

Driving back from fall break I was struck by a realization of our generation. It seems that there has been a shift. A shift from the "American dream" to adventure, to freedom, to change, and to social justice. Though this shift excites me, it worries me. I have seen our generation rise to the occasion on issues such as sex trafficking, child soldiers, unclean water...poverty. It is so inspiring to see hundreds of thousands of young people become excited about the possibility of change.

In college, I see that we have so many options...so many possibilities...it really is endless. In this abundance of opportunity, there is a lack of clarity. The generation before us dreamed to acquire a tangible goal...a family, a nice house, a steady job...comfort. With this tangibility came steadiness...commitment...a goal oriented society...it can all be placed nice a neat on a list. But, now the shift has brought forth an abstract goal that cannot be listed or labeled and because of this confusion has ensued.

I look around and I see young people (like myself) looking towards the goal of changing the world. Through this search for something more we fail to engage in the here and now, in relationships, in goals, and ideas...though I believe we long for extravagance, because there is a lack of direction...tangibility and engagement...our dreams become nothing more than ...dreams.

So, though the future is full of potential...potential is not good enough. We, well...I... need to find ground. Somewhere to place my feet, so that I can start running...running towards something greater...something larger than life...something or, in my case someone (that being Christ) who really can change the world. Corny...maybe...spectacular...definitely.

Loving Others

Loving others...well, this seems simple enough right? I have heard many say that Christianity is nothing more than "loving God and loving people." I have thought a great deal about this statement, and although have had my qualms with it in the past...I am starting to believe it true.

The problem lays with the "nothing more" part of the statement. Nothing more? Really? Ministry, Christianity, the church, it's people, if it were to work through this statement, would indeed find solutions to many of it's problems. In 1 John 4:16 it says "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." So why is this so hard?

1 John 4:17-21 continues with saying...

"In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

At a Christian University you would think this would be understood...you would think it to be the banner held high in the ministry department...instead when "loving God and loving others" is mentioned one can look around only to see eyes rolling, hear exasperated sighs and slight chuckling. Why? Why has this become an icon of scorn? Is it because it is overdone or misunderstood?

A student can gain all the wisdom of the world...all the facts...all the philosophies...all the theories of theology and ministry, but without this passion...without love it is, as our Ecclesiastical friend would say, "vanity."

A professor of mine said that we, as students, have become institutionalized. We never want to leave this place. Of course we all say how badly we want out, but really deep down many of us fear what is to come. We would prefer discussing deep ideas and "dreams" brooding over coffee, then getting out there and "doing" ministry and loving people.

The passion has become distinguished...how do we fight it?

1. Presence with God - I believe that prayer is breathing with God. It is timing our breaths with His, our thoughts with His, meeting Him where He is ...not the other way around. It is alining our hearts to His and if God is love, than how can we not have that love if we are "breathing" with Him?

2. Presence with people - When you are being with people, really being with people, in their hurts, in their pain, crying with them, laughing with them ...being with them...sharing life with them you cannot help, but to love them. I'm not talking about coffee meetings, class time, or movies on a Friday night... I'm talking about the real issues in life. I'm talking about being a shoulder to cry on, affirming truths in their life, lending a hand...sharing your life with them.

3. Presence with the church - The church is by no means perfect, but it is real. It is up to you what the church looks like. It can be a place where everyone wears a mask, it can be a place where people come and hide ...or... it can be a place of true community, true family, a picture of love.

4. Presence with the here and now - "My" generation seems to have the tendency of either looking of what has been or what could be. We look at how it was in high school or maybe even college as the "golden years," losing sight of the present time. Another common error, that I easily fall into, is that of looking only at what is to come. By living in the past, or even the future, we fail to see the here and now, and in that we fail to love those in the here and now...