Of slip-n-slides and famines: why I do what I do.
We live in a unique age. This generation is uniquely concerned about social justice and righting wrongs. We also live in a world of media and information where we can educate ourselves about injustices all over the world from the comfort of our lounge chairs. At the click of a button I can view horrible images of starving men, women, and children in the horn of Africa, stricken by a famine and fighting for survival. This afternoon I flipped on CNN and watched Bono and K'naan (a Sudanese refugee) talk about the famine and what should be done.
As I consumed my daily dose of media I glanced at my calendar. The first thing that I saw was "Slip-N-Slide Outreach," an event on campus involving a 50 foot slip-n-slide and general water-based mayhem designed to invite college students into our InterVarsity community. My initial response was repulsion--I arranged an event that will "waste" gallons of water while millions are starving and thirsty. Suddenly Slip-n-slides didn't seem so important.
My mind wandered to the question, "Why do I do what I do?" I answer that question every day... but today it seemed different. Why, in the midst of poverty in Haiti, famine in Africa, political unrest in the Middle East, economic instability worldwide, do I work to build radical communities of Jesus-followers on college campuses where those problems seem so far away--even untouchable.
Maybe my calling is just coming into focus. Maybe I'm "maturing" (gasp!!). But what I do isn't just about creating community on campus or helping college students learn how to be disciples of Jesus. It's so much bigger. These students--these 18, 19, 20-year-olds are the solution to those problems of injustice and instability. When Jesus left the Disciples and went back to Heaven, I'm quite sure He didn't have a plan-B. The Church... the followers of Jesus ARE the plan. He left one church, one motley crew, and one mission--"change the world with Me."
In that moment, clarity returned. I remembered why I do what I do. I remembered why God's asked me to plan slip-n-slides when millions are starving. Because somehow the two are connected. I do what I do because the men and women who are sliding down that slip-n-slide are more than just students. They're world-changers in the making... many of them will join the motley crew of men and women who respond to Jesus' mission.
God has one plan to restore the world to it's original state. We're invited to participate. Maybe it's a crazy insane plan.. but we know God works and we know He will successfully restore the world to it's original perfection. I also know that I want to be a part of it. The best way I know how is to ask the students to join this crazy insane mission for a lifetime and offer whatever talents they have. Maybe it's crazy, but when I joined the motley crew of Jesus followers, I got the job "slip-n-slide planner" and if that's the skill God needs to change the world then I'm ok with that--and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it! So bring on the slip-n-slides, but never let my heart forget that it is directly connected to righting the wrongs around the world, too!
As I consumed my daily dose of media I glanced at my calendar. The first thing that I saw was "Slip-N-Slide Outreach," an event on campus involving a 50 foot slip-n-slide and general water-based mayhem designed to invite college students into our InterVarsity community. My initial response was repulsion--I arranged an event that will "waste" gallons of water while millions are starving and thirsty. Suddenly Slip-n-slides didn't seem so important.
My mind wandered to the question, "Why do I do what I do?" I answer that question every day... but today it seemed different. Why, in the midst of poverty in Haiti, famine in Africa, political unrest in the Middle East, economic instability worldwide, do I work to build radical communities of Jesus-followers on college campuses where those problems seem so far away--even untouchable.
Maybe my calling is just coming into focus. Maybe I'm "maturing" (gasp!!). But what I do isn't just about creating community on campus or helping college students learn how to be disciples of Jesus. It's so much bigger. These students--these 18, 19, 20-year-olds are the solution to those problems of injustice and instability. When Jesus left the Disciples and went back to Heaven, I'm quite sure He didn't have a plan-B. The Church... the followers of Jesus ARE the plan. He left one church, one motley crew, and one mission--"change the world with Me."
In that moment, clarity returned. I remembered why I do what I do. I remembered why God's asked me to plan slip-n-slides when millions are starving. Because somehow the two are connected. I do what I do because the men and women who are sliding down that slip-n-slide are more than just students. They're world-changers in the making... many of them will join the motley crew of men and women who respond to Jesus' mission.
God has one plan to restore the world to it's original state. We're invited to participate. Maybe it's a crazy insane plan.. but we know God works and we know He will successfully restore the world to it's original perfection. I also know that I want to be a part of it. The best way I know how is to ask the students to join this crazy insane mission for a lifetime and offer whatever talents they have. Maybe it's crazy, but when I joined the motley crew of Jesus followers, I got the job "slip-n-slide planner" and if that's the skill God needs to change the world then I'm ok with that--and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it! So bring on the slip-n-slides, but never let my heart forget that it is directly connected to righting the wrongs around the world, too!
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