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.

Thinking back. Looking forward. Living now.

There have been several times where I have sat down to write my next blog entry. Each one filled with anticipation as I look to put my thoughts and heart on the internet to let everyone know what is really going on in my life. Reflecting on those posts that never made it, I am glad that they are stuck in a cyberspace time capsule. This blog will be getting a lot more action as the year continues on, but for now I think a good update is the best bet.

Life has changed. There is really no other way to put it. No flattering way to dress it up or make it sound like anything other than what it is. Life has changed, and so have I. I've been uprooted from the place that I have always called home to a place where temperatures (we're supposed to hit -50C tonight with the wind chill), life, and priorities are drastically different. I have gone over some of the more subtle cultural differences in some of my other posts, but I think that I have finally, truly begun to settle down and be me again. A journey which was a bit harder than I thought.

Sarah gave me a copy of a devotional book called "Streams in the Desert" in my first "care package" that I received. Today was talking about looking at sorrow as opportunity. I was instantly reminded of a Winston Churchill quote "A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." I came to Canada wide eyed and bushy tailed, but within a few weeks I had begun to do something that I am not sure that I have ever really done before and most definitely not to the extent that it happened here...I began to feel sorry for myself. It threw me totally off. I was stuck in this weird mental and emotional spot where not only could I not properly reason how to get out of this funk. I didn't even realize that the cause of it was probably me having a good ole Eeyore  "whoa is me, where is my tail, oh bother" pity party and to be perfectly honest I should have sent out more invitations, because you all would have loved it! It was a party to end all parties! It lasted for months! Sitting where I am now I can reflect back and see where I have sucked life out of some of my friendships and missed many opportunities as I tried to reconcile what it was that holding me back. A harsh but true reality.

I got the opportunity to go the Passion conference in Atlanta, Georgia during the Christmas break, as I was home visiting family and friends in God's Country (aka Texas) and the rest of the USA. Louie Giglio spoke the first night about being fully where you are. Passionately being where you are. This, for me was not a new message as I have heard it several times since I have been here, yet it struck me differently. I cannot tell you exactly why, but it did. Maybe it was hearing it from a voice that was unattached to me or maybe it was just because I found myself in a setting where I wasn't worried about being stubborn and having to stand my ground. Who knows. God moved in me during those four days and He began to remind me of the work that He had started. My perspectives began to change, and though they weren't new (in fact they were going back to a place they had been just months before) they still had to be changed.

My dad and I have a great relationship and as I have gotten older it has morphed into a great friendship. While we were taking an afternoon drive, I, eager to share what God was doing in my life and finding that I had a captive audience, explained to him how my eyes had been opened at Passion. What he said in response stuck with me.

"You have to be fully where you are that is true. Beware that you do not fall into the trap of setting anchors in places. Anchors are meant keep you from moving. They are only there to tie you down and pull you back to where you were. They can be places, or people or jobs, whatever they are they will always keep you tethered and the more you set the less you are able to move. You will never reach your destination. It is better to set buoys (that is such a weird looking word). Buoys are meant to guide you and direct you. You can always return to the buoys and each time you do they will help to guide you. They will mark the dangers on your path and help lead you to the next destination on your journey. You can't try and be in 50 places at once with anchors everywhere or you'll never get anywhere. You have to be free to go and explore."

It hit me hard. And suddenly the ever dimming light bulb in my head flickered on terrifying the cockroaches that had taken residence there and forcing them to flee. Thanks dad.

Upon arriving back home a few days after Passion my family was in full wedding prep mode. My youngest brother was getting married (both younger brothers have now tied the knot) The wedding was great and I am happy for Thomas and his new bride Danielle. The wedding was on a Saturday and the next day I said good bye to too many people. Sarah had flown down as she was also back in the States for the holidays. Taking her to the airport at 5am in the rain had all the makings of a Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movie. I had half a mind to break through the TSA barrier grab her and just escape to Aruba (I hear it's super nice), but the thought of the ensuing man hunt and what might happen if her mother, who is a lovely Christian woman that I respect tremendously, got her hands on me was enough to make me just stand and watch as she moved through security and slowly out of sight. The 200yd walk in the cold rain back to the car felt like a scene from a sappy music video, complete with me longingly looking back at the doors to the airport. I think I finally understand why Yeti (my 2 year old Akita) whimpers when I leave. It's hard to see someone you love go when you're unsure of when you will see them again. Thomas and Danielle then left on their honeymoon. Matt (the other married younger brother) and Autumn left to go back home a few hours away. Finally the wee baby girl walked out the door as the sunset, on her way back to college.

I shared my last two days in Texas (that word looks super awesome!) with my parents and one of my best friends James, who was stuck in Dallas due to snow (Dallas snow is nothing like real snow). Said my last good byes and headed back to Minneapolis, MN. Once I hit the ground I hopped the shuttle to my truck, started her up and began the 6 hour drive back home to Thunder Bay. I have been back for almost two weeks and I am more here now than I have ever been. (Que triumphant music) Here in this city there are boundless opportunities for Life, Passion, and Adventure. I think back to all the things that I missed because I was too busy feeling sorry for myself or trying to hold on to something that I just needed to let go of. But, I can't dwell on the opportunities that I may have missed, nor can I look too far down the road wondering what may lie ahead. Instead I must live in the now, making the most of every opportunity (Eph 5:16).

We have seen some amazing things happening in our church since the start of the new year and we are believing that there are many more amazing things to come. Our student ministry program is beginning to really begin to gain momentum and start to grow. Please join with us in praying that God continues the work he is doing here. I promise to be much more diligent in updating this blog for 2011. Thank you for all your continued love and support, y'all are awesome.

Pookie