Fist, a quick response to Lynn's comment. I have read the Shack and if you would like to talk about this more, let's do it via e-mail. suskovic@christelca.org
Gretchen and I are headed up to App State today. Hannah (freshman) is going on a mission trip to Mississippi with the Lutheran Campus Ministry. We are going to take her out to lunch, get her packed and send her off. App is teaming up with Chapel Hill on this mission trip. There will be probably a half a dozen kids from Christ Lutheran between the two schools on the trip. With many choices before her, I'm glad she is going on a mission trip rather than a road trip to Daytona Beach!
I never did that for a spring break during college, did you? As I've been seeing college now through her eyes rather than through my own experience 28 years ago, I see a big change. Gone are the protests against nuclear weapons and Apartheid. No longer is there a cry to save the whales and the rain forests. It has been replaced with service that goes beyond simple rhetoric and signing petitions. They are more interested in authentic living than talking a good line. There seems to be a depth or maturity that includes hands on involvement. While I'm sure there are plenty who will be living in a bottle at night and sunbathing on the beach by day this spring break, the kids I've seen go through our Youth Program at CLC seem to be looking for more out of life than personal pleasures.
It seems back in my college days, we were going to change the world by signing petitions and writing our senators. Today, they are still idealic enough to want to change the world--but rather than demand others to do it, they would rather get their own hands dirty and make a difference.
Twenty eight years later, I think they have it right.
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Pastor!
ReplyDeleteCollege for me and still is a balance of family responsibilities, work and social life. I think people sadly and realistic realize that action is the only way to solve problems.
Let us not forget Jesus formed and lead an active ministry. It was not made up of passive people, and if they were called to it passivity of inaction was not a practice.
Leaders in the world, not just our country have stresses that are beyond comprehension, wars and every other natural crisis, that impacts them.
And that good old word "Greed" is always at the top. As a Theology student and a lay minister before, only an active ministry will do. Not that I am trying to make this into a political arena, I won't but people gain more and learn more about themselves will they have to do things for themselves.
Expecting for others who should do, would do; is a failed expectation. Failed expectations are failures! I don't expect a poltician or a classmate or a co-worker to do my share of the work.
That is for me to do. Lastly Jesus calls each of us to do our share of the harvest, and yes it may take some time to see the results. But when they show, we have earned the right to share in them. And the one's that should, would, and could can watch!