Generation Whine

"We are a chosen generation..."

The words sung by Chris Tomlin have followed me like an unwelcome spirit as I have left the Passion conference a few weeks ago. "Chosen" for what? And really THIS generation? My Generation?

Generation Y. We, as all the generations before us, will be defined by our actions and the legacy that we leave to those after us. The Great Generation lead us out of the Great World Wars. They conquered one of the greatest terrors this world has known. The Baby Boomers went to outer space. Generation X lived the Cold War, the Vietnam War and ushered in a new movement of counter culture. MTV and the rise of mass media are to their credit. But what of us? What legacy are we leaving? What is to be said of us?

As Generation X'er begin to enter into their senior years we enter our 20s and 30s. Generation Y is known as a generation of idealist who are too overcome to move. Slothful, lazy, disinterested and apathetic. We are known as a generation of whiners. Our parents and grandparents tell us that we don't know how good we have it. What do we have to complain about? Information is at our finger tips at any given moment. Any desire we have, excitement, adventure, relationship, intimacy, can be met at any given moment with a few key strokes. We close the doors, turn out the lights and disappear into our computers. 

We meet in coffee houses and churches and pubs and we see what the world is becoming and we despise it. We look at what the generations before us have left us and we are disgusted at their wars and their greed. We vow that we are going to be different, that we will be the ones to right the wrongs of those that have come before us. We plan and we strategize and in a matter of hours a group of us has solved world hunger, we have found a way to give every child in Africa a pair of shoes and healthcare, we've fixed broken political systems and found a way to put a Bible in the hands of every village in the world, but as soon as we step out of the coffee shop all of our ideas vanish. They disappear like a snuffed flame and as the smoke dissipates, carried off by the wind, so our solutions dematerialize. The moment we step outside of the comfort of the coffee shop we are overwhelmed by the enormity of the world and suffer instant defeat. We are better than this. 

What if you truly believed that the person you see in the mirror could accomplish the dreams of your heart and mind?

How would that change the way we lived? What do we have to do to make that happen? As a generation we have to become finishers. We are wonderful at creating ideas and when we are put in large groups we can be inspired and motivated to do amazing things. The Passion conference in Atlanta raised $1.1 Million over double the $470,000 that was the goal. We are capable of extraordinary things, but we consistently settle for less. 

"If only I had an enemy greater than my apathy I could have won"
-Mumford and Sons "I Gave You All"

What if we believed that God could move in us to do greater things than we could imagine (Eph 3:20)  That we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37) That we were not given a timid spirit, but one of power (2 Tim 1:7) There are people all around us who are doing extraordinary things. Which one of us is going to be the next Larry Jones (Feed the Children) or Blake Mycoskie (Toms shoes) or Louie Giglio (Passion)? Which one of us is going to be the next one to rise to the occasion and make a difference?

What happens when we believe that we can accomplish something bigger than ourselves? Extraordinary things. We are a chosen generation. We each have things that have been put in our hearts that fire us up. Those things were not put there purposelessly. Not all of us are meant to be revolutionaries, but none of us are called to be dormant.

My best friend from home, Danley, is a great man. He inspires me, encourages me, and I could not be more proud of him. God has used him in amazing ways in my life. We have gone through the awkwardness of our early twenties together. When Danley and I met we were frustrated with everything in our lives. Neither of us wanted to have anything to do with another human and somehow, two guys  whose pictures were next to jerk in the dictionary (ask our friends from that time they will tell you no different), became friends. Danley is an awesome guitar player. He is also now a great husband to his wonderful wife and I am having the privilege of watching him become a great father to his son. Danley is passionate about worship, has been since I have met him. He knows that God has given him a talent and though he isn't touring the world, he takes the opportunities that he is given to do what he is passionate about. He loves it and watching him play you know that this is what he was created to do. There are some of us that are called to go to foreign countries, some to start movements, some to preach, some to be the Sunday morning lead guitarist, some of us are called to help organize the church directories, teach sunday school, or watch some toddlers so that a family can worship together. The point is no matter what it is that lights that fire in us we have to start doing it.

We are given opportunities throughout our lives to do the things we are the most passionate about. They may last lifetimes or only moments, but we, as a generation, can no longer sit idly and watch them go by. We were called to be doers. To be warriors. To be strong and courageous. We are called to live lives that are manifestations of the spirit that lives within us. It is time that we started to do it.

What if you truly believed that the person you saw in the mirror could accomplish the dreams of your heart and mind?

Choose to believe it and show us what God is capable of through you.