The Way That Leads To Life…part 2

The more I reflect about the need for people to find The Way that Leads to Life, the more I see a need for some possible ideas about how to find this.

My wife, Joanna and I are currently taking seminary classes from Memphis Theological Seminary for Children and Youth Ministry.  The great thing about MTS and the classes we are taking is that they force us to find the practicality of what we are learning,
why does this matter in real life...

We are in our last year, so we have taken a lot of classes and I have been seeing a few patterns that are just my observations, but I feel might help bring light to some of what you or young adults you know might be feeling:

1. They know that they system has failed them, but don't know what to do now.
2. They are in search of purpose in life that makes a difference, so an office job probably isn't the answer.
3. They need people alongside them to help them continue to search for what they are passionate about.
4. Tough love isn't necessarily the answer, pushing them just to do anything doesn't help, helping them find their Way That Leads To Life is what they need.

Trying to come up with an idea that might be a good place to start with finding your/their personal Way That Leads To Life, I have one that keeps coming up over and over in our studies: Missional Living. 

It seems that the system that has failed them has failed in a big way because it puts all the focus on the individual, which this generation (and probably all those to follow) know isn't the point. So the answer would be to do things that focus on others. 

Missional Living is living a life focused on helping to serve others, not just a onetime shot, but often enough that relationships are built between those serving and those being served.

So if you feel like the system has failed you or you know someone like this, step out and find a place to serve...if the first place you choose doesn't fit, try another until you find one that does, and then jump in with everything you have...

I believe that you will find The Way That Leads To Life there...

The Way That Leads To Life…

So I was mindlessly going through Facebook, as I find myself doing more often than I would like to admit, and came across this status from a young adult: “Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a f***ing big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance.” And it got me thinking about something I keep trying to put in the back of my mind…

Why have so many young adults been failed by the system; the system that has seemingly work until now.  The system that says: get “great” grades in school, do as many extra-curricular activities as possible, all so you get into a “great” college, so that you can get a “great” degree, so that you get a “great” job, all so that you get a great house and family, so that you can be “successful.”

The problem with this system is it eventually fails almost everyone.  Even the older adults that have made it through the system find themselves stuck in a meaningless, lifeless life…

The system is inherently broken because it tries to make everyone the same, and well…none of us are the same.

So now what…If the entire system is set up to fail, then what would work?

Joanna, my wife, responded to this young adult’s status with this “Find what brings you to life and choose that”…(and I would add) even if it doesn’t have a major or a degree or fit into the system because what everyone needs to find is The Way That Leads To Life.

I heard it once described as this when I ask someone wise how do I find my purpose: “Where your greatest joy and the world’s greatest need meets, that is who you are called to be and that is where you find your purpose.”

For me, I find life in Youth Ministry; helping teens through life’s biggest questions, faith journey, and pointing them to The Way That Leads To Life…

Where do you find life?