Well, it’s May 23, 2011.
2 days after the world was supposedly going to end — at least according to some people.
And I don’t know about you, but I caught a couple of different news interviews, with seemingly “normal” people, who were utterly convinced that the world was going to end this past Saturday — May 21st of 2011 — and are now both shocked, and devastated, that it did not.
All of this got me to thinking about our students and:
- Who they listen to,
- What they care about, and
- If they live with “the end” in mind
Starting in reverse order…
I personally find that very few students are living life with “the end” in mind.
And while I don’t think it’s necessarily healthy to obsess over the end of the world, I do think that having it somewhere in our frame of reference can keep much of life in proper perspective.
When we’re more aware of God’s work in the world — past, present and future — and how this one decision, or grade, or moment of relational crisis fits into the larger scheme of life we might be just a little more willing to act as if it’s not the end of the world.
But how do we help students get there?
How do we help them to recognize the need to expand their frame of reference to include much more than what is happening right now?
This brings me to question #2 above — what do they care about?
If students aren’t thinking about life — with the end in mind — than how are they thinking about it? What is serving as their frame of reference for how they live life and why? Why?
I think one of the things our students need most from us is a caring voice that is consistently encouraging them to think beyond themselves and beyond today.
I’ve found that regularly asking them questions like:
- Where do you think you’ll be a year after you graduate? 10 years after you graduate? Why?
- What would you do with your life if money wasn’t an issue?
- What makes you feel most alive? Why?
- How do you understand what God is doing in the world? How does that shape your own priorities or sense of calling?
can really help to get students thinking in some different ways than they typically do.
But I also know that my voice is not the only — or even the most valued — voice that they are listening to.
This brings us back to question #1 — who are students listening to?
Do you know?
Do you know who is having the greatest influence on your students???
Many of the individuals who spent this past Saturday preparing to depart for heaven had been led to believe that the end had indeed arrived.
These people had listened to someone they deemed credible and reliable… who ultimately misled them.
They had put their faith, hope and trust in someone who didn’t deserve it.
And I wonder how many of our students can recognize the fact that they’re doing this as well…
The college years are such formative years… and there are so many voices, priorities and purposes that are competing for the allegiance of our students.
How are we helping them to navigate these important decisions during these critical years?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this! Please take a moment to share below.
2 thoughts on “The World Didn’t End — Which Raises Some Good Questions”
I think you’re right on target. Students need to have a bigger picture in view that can shape their decisions, and we can play small roles in helping them gain that larger perspective. I frequently remind our students in various ways that their lives can and should be parts of what God is doing in the world. If they can’t figure out how their chosen majors/careers fit into God’s mission, they need either to rethink their choices or at least to reconsider their reasons for those choices. And when students are undecided, I get to encourage them to take inventory of their interests and skills and then pray and brainstorm about how they can play an active role in God’s work.
Good stuff Steven!
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