the van.

“The van was a good call,” she said turning to me.

My friend and I were returning from the “senior rafting trip” with our school, and we both agreed that choosing to ride up and back in the school van (as opposed to charter bus driven so skillfully by a lovely woman named Susan) was a good idea. Not only because our hip government teacher was driving it, or because we had an iPod adapter and could listen to the music we wanted, or because it was air conditioned, or because we could make Starbucks stops, or because we could average a good 20 miles an hour more than the bus, but also because we had meaningful conversations with people we wouldn’t have talked to otherwise.

Our lovely van was comprised of quite possibly the most random group of people in our graduating senior class—only a punk-rock vegetarian or one-legged veteran could have made the group more diverse, in my humble opinion.

We broached every topic from the Lakers to the Dodgers, from academics to athletics, from our greatest fear to the person we wish we had spent more time with, from what’s important in a church to why people make fun of others.

It was engaging.

It was thought provoking.

It rendered us vulnerable.

And I think we all came out with a greater appreciation for one another.

At the end, I found myself wishing this had taken place sophomore year. Why was I just now connecting with people two days away from graduation? Why was I just now developing compassion for people I’ve known for four years?

And now, here I am, about to embark on a new adventure: college, where I’ll be surrounded by new, different people for another four years.

I’ve decided I want to do things differently.

I don’t want to pass judgment on people. I don’t want to realize that “so-and-so isn’t that bad, after all” minutes before I wave goodbye to them at my college graduation.

I want to get to know people. Really. Truly. Deeply. Because when I learn about people’s lives, their struggles, and their hopes, I develop a new appreciation for them as individuals. I see them for who they really are: broken people, loved by our Creator, searching for meaning and truth, just like me.

But it’s hard. I pass judgment so easily. I assume people who dress a certain way will act a certain way. I make up excuses not to talk to them: “they won’t like me”, “our personalities will clash”, “they’ll annoy me”, or “they’re too fake.”

But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do it, right?

Mother Teresa once said, “I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness.”

Beyond anything else, I ask that God would grant me the grace to remain faithful to him in this next phase of my life. Regardless of whether or not a bounty of friendships meet me as a result of my “don’t-pass-judgment” scheme (success, in a sense), I hope I will at least learn a lesson in faithfulness.

who are we trying to impress?

"When our love of music becomes a race to beat each other with knowledge of obscure bands, we've lost our love of music. When our political engagement boils down to who has the best screen-printed swag, we're not engaging politics. When our passion for social justice isn't coupled with actual knowledge of the issues we're fighting for, it's just posturing."

I read this in an article today.

It was interesting. 

The author criticized the way in which our culture (namely, my generation) has made everything from social change movements to environmental campaigns trendy. He says, "We seem so intent upon creating an impressive display of cultural and political awareness that the culture and politics we tout become secondary to the style in which we tout them...Who are we trying to impress with our cultural savvy, our rebellious fashion sense and political awareness? Essentially, it's each other. On a whole, we're trying to impress our peers, strangers we pass on the street who - in reality - notice us no more than we do them."

I'll be honest, I'm a victim of this epidemic in progressive culture. I like the Urban Outfitters look, which we all know is not as "effortless" as it appears. I'd consider myself a "band wagon" fan when it comes to things like boba, frozen yogurt, and lattes. I intentionally purchase music by obscure artists to avoid being labeled as "mainstream."

And when I think about it all, I realize this guy's right: "It's time we stop trying to impress, and start making a difference for the sake of making a difference."

In this day and age, we need people to stand up for truth, but not because it's trendy. 

(To read this article, visit http://www.relevantmagazine.com/features-reviews/life/17250-who-are-we-trying-to-impress)

a benediction.

ben-e-dic-tion: an utterance of good wishes.

 

I like benedictions. I really do. I wish we gave them more often.

They're often profound and empowering.

This one in particular was offered at a recent chapel service I attended. It really resonated with me, and I thought I'd share it with you:

May God bless you with discomfort

At easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,

So that you may live deep within your heart.

 

May God bless you with anger

At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,

So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

 

May God bless you with tears

To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,

So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

To believe that you can make a difference in the world,

So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,

To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

 

Amen