Riding a Bike

Today in class Dr. Lennox told us an analogy that really got me thinking.

He said that college (especially in the school of theology and ministry) is like trying to ride your bike and think about how to ride a bike at the same time...by doing this you inevitably fall off sometimes.

He then continued to explain it saying that while we are trying to think about riding the bike (and this is good) we need to be cautioned to not forget how to ride the bike.

Practically speaking...

I think practically this is extremely relevant to ministerial students at IWU...

Lately I have noticed that so many of my classmates get more excited about thinking about ministry than they do about doing ministry...

They (or maybe I should say we) get so excited sitting around at McConn (the coffee shop) brooding over ideas, theories, and theology, yet most of us are not even involved in a local ministry...and cringe at the idea of actually getting out there in the "real world."

Why? Why would we rather sit around and think about riding the bike than actually ride it?

I think it is because it is safe.

There is no risk thinking about ministry. There are no consequences of thinking about all of the changes that "need" to happen. There are no real people actually effected by people just thinking about ministry.

You can't fall off a bike that you never get on.

But what about the thrill that comes with speeding down a hill, with wind in your hair, and your feet hardly able to keep up with the pedals?

Personally...I want to ride the bike. I want to put a baseball card in the spokes and take off.

Sure I may have to go uphill once in a while...or the weather may not always be ideal...but isn't that what makes the "perfect" ride so enjoyable?

Stressful, tiring, and oh so worth it.

picture with me...a room bustling with activity...

children laying on the floors every which way...

turning summersaults at any opportunity...

yelling answers out of turn ...

hitting one another at the slightest turn of your head...

all the while, the leaders attempt to bring forth some sort of order...some opportunity for "learning." The chosen eight sit at the edge of their seats, with quiz lights in hand, anticipating what the pastor will ask next...hoping that they will reach the ultimate glory of a "quiz out."

Yes...this is ministry...

Tonight I sat next to a little girl. She came up to me first thing this evening...her eyes so carefully marked by makeup hoping to be someone older...someone different...

adorable...absolutely,

innocent ...maybe,

spoiled...contradictory.

This little girl came up to me first thing this evening and without hesitation proclaimed ..."You were funny last week," as if my quirkiness bought the admiration of this beautiful child. From that moment she stuck by me all night.

This little girl...wanting so badly to be a little girl, yet maybe unsure of what this really means.

This little girl...who yearns for a mentor...finds it in an under-qualified, overly enthusiastic, college kid...mimicking her as she pushes up her sleeves.

This little girl...smelling of smoke and unable, for some unknowable reason, to answer the simple question...do you have siblings?

This little girl...skipping gym time, just to gain a little more attention.

This little girl...declaring that she is now in my group...without any question in mind.

This little girl...who will now pervade my prayers...

is also ministry.

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.