Verse: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. - Acts 4:32Topic: How can I make a difference?
Personal Piece: This week I've been really moving forward in getting my novel published. It's such an exciting time but sure takes a lot of time and energy. Now that I've made the official decision not to move to Kansas city, I will be putting all my energy into taking these final steps so that by the end of the year I can hopefully be holding it my hands and on the shelves of my friends and family. If you could keep me in your prayers as I take these final steps I would really appreciate it. This has been a 7 year project and I would hate to see it fizzle out or get damaged in any way here at the end.
Thought of the Week: Today I want to talk about a word that has developed a rather negative meaning over the last few years. That is the word millennial. A couple weeks ago I watched a clip from an interview with Simon Sinek (shared below) that has gotten me thinking. In the interview Simon shares about the 4 societal structures that have created "millennials". Millennials are those currently in their early 30's and younger who have become defined by their consumption of technology, an entitlement attitude, and an unfortunately poor work ethic. They are young people who strive to bring meaning to the world and have a desire to change lives but haven't learned that those things take time.
Long before the term millennial came to describe my generation, I had already devoted my life to studying the behaviors and motivations of those within my generation. The summer before my freshman year of high school God called me to reach my peers and ever since that moment I have poured my life into understanding everything I can. That was just short of a decade ago (June will be ten years). It has been my life's work in many ways and that research has fueled many of my decisions and filled the content of my writing. God has been preparing me to reach millenials since long before the world knew what millenials were.
I cannot tell you how difficult it is to watch and work with these young people who are filled with such hope and yet are watching it slowly drift away like chaff in the wind. I meet with students in their schools twice a week and rub shoulders everyday in the work place and so often all I see is despair. Over the years I have discovered that there are two kinds of millennials. The first are those who have succumbed to their depression and have just accepted it as part of their lives. They go through the motions of work and school because that's what they are supposed to do and have become so used to the darkness that they do not even realize anymore that they are depressed. These are the kids often categorized as good kids because they don't ever step outside the lines.
The second group of millennials are those unwilling to fit the mold. They are fighting against the black and white world that their parents have created and blurring the lines everywhere they can. Black and white becomes gray, good and evil becomes misunderstood, male and female becomes androgynous. Everywhere we look tolerance reigns but the question has always remained why. In my years of watching and studying I have come to find that it is not out of love that tolerance reigns, but solely out of fear. The lines have become blurred because the heart has become fragile. What those who fight for tolerance have not wanted to admit even to themselves is that at the heart of their passion lies a deep anxiety that they cannot overcome. So they choose battles they believe they can win. Fighting for the right to abortion, the right to marijuana, the right to LGBT relationships and whatever other right they can think of. Because fighting for their rights is easier than admitting that when they look deep inside they don't actually feel like they deserve them.
Over the last 10 years I have been able to categorize myself in both of these groups. I know what it feels like to have depression be so normal you don't even notice it anymore. But more importantly I still remember what it feels like to have that burden lifted from my shoulders forever. I know what it's like to be so afraid of people seeing the real me that I bury it under as many "good deeds" as I can. But more importantly I know what it feels like to face my fears, let someone in and have them love me anyway. So many millennials struggle to connect with those around them and unfortunately that is not something that can be fixed through technology, not truly.
We as millennials are the most disconnected, connected generation of all time. We can build "guilds" and make business transactions with people on the other side of the world but those same people rarely know the desires of our hearts. Meanwhile the man/woman we wake up next to every morning struggles to get even 5 minutes of our attention. Dates, work meetings, our children's soccer games and dance recitals, even family movie night, are all viewed with one eye on the phone in our hands. I'm as guilty of this as anyone else in my generation. It's my alarm clock, my camera, my calculator, my schedule, my life. But with the inability to unplug from technology comes the inability to plug into people.
Like so many in my generation I long to make an impression, to change lives, to leave a legacy. But I don't want to leave just any legacy I want to leave God's legacy. The legacy of a changed life. Everyday I have to fight against my "Millennial Nature" to make sure that I am taking the time to connect with the people around me. My instinct in awkward situations is often to pull out my phone, to look busy and popular, to lose myself in the digital world and disconnect from the physical one. But how many opportunities have I missed because I couldn't put it down. I don't want that to be me. It may be difficult, it may go against everything within me but seeing the light come into a young person's eyes when I show an interest in them makes all the difference. If I can bring just a little bit of Christ's hope to those around me then it doesn't matter if I ever get to be in an authoritative position or make 6 digits or own my own house. All that matters is that my eyes are on Jesus more often then they are on my phone.
Digging Deeper: Here is the Simon Sinek video referenced above:
Also check out the book "#Hooked" by Gregory Jantz for a more scientific point of view from a Christian Psychologist on the effects of technology on our society.
Challenge: As you can imagine my challenge this week is to unplug. Whether it be for five minutes while you people watch at a park or an hour while you enjoy dinner with your family or friends. Sometime this week, make a conscious effort to unplug from the digital world and plug into the physical world around you.
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