In my mind it is the early '90s and I'm the new associate minister in climate that reminds me of Boise. I'm 32, and according to one of my youth groups, I am very cool. My entire job is education and youth ministry and I am loving it. Three youth groups, a big Sunday School, adult ed, and free-lancing on Sunday night running a combined group for two churches of another denomination. We go camping - have lock ins - we plan mission trips. We go on retreat up into the Sierras at a non-denominational camp that has breathtaking vistas and a rope swing that would never ever pass today's risk assessment exercise. Actually, I'm not sure the winter camping trip would have passed the risk assessment exercise. But we didn't do those things back then...at least not to the degree we do now. Although I wasn't supposed to have favorite groups, I loved the young adult group. This group had a rocky relationship with the church, and so they decided to call themselves "Friends United" - because the acronym said it all. I loved them like they were my own - and they knew it.
The torch passes, and today I got to watch a 32 year old representative of late Gen X or early Millennial generation show us what ministry can look like under their direction, and it is a nice mix of wise and cool. Very cool. It is a blessing to see that the church is in good hands. The next gen, be it X or Y, has us covered.
I have a colleague who re-invents himself every 10 years, a process that usually involves that "little box of hair color" and a new form of transportation. The motorcycle with the leathers was received fairly well by his congregation. The later Mohawk with just a shade of tinting - not so well (some say it was bright pink, but I thought it was more of a subtle cotton candy color...). It brought out the blue in his eyes, but didn't work so well at the graveside funeral services. People misunderstood his intentions and felt he was being disrespectful. He was genuinely surprised by this - "I just want to stay relevant" was his answer. But then he said what was really on his heart: "I don't want to be left behind."
It is tempting to fear being left behind as the world around us shifts and changes at breakneck pace. Aging requires flexibility in order to stay relevant - which, at its root, means continuing to be appropriate for our purpose. And what is our purpose?
To love. And to grow into a greater awareness of our union with God. Which causes us to love.
Each day, the challenge and opportunity is to find new and creative ways to love based on who we are and what we can bring to the experience. The differences in how we love is part of what makes the tapestry so rich...and beautiful...and strong - the many different threads of love woven together by the master Tejedor who values each unique thread.
So...today I was reminded that I am not 32 anymore. Instead, I am a very happy 53, who is not in danger of running into that "little box of hair color" nor of buying a motorcycle. But a two door soft top Jeep Wrangler...well...that may be another story. If Fr. Richard Rohr is right about the second half of life (as described in his wise book "Falling Upward") then my journey into the greater reality will not require a new ride...but the adventure may be enhanced with the top down!
Loving the journey,
Kim
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