Connectivity

Ah, the 90's. It's a time I think most people of my generation look back upon with fondness because we didn't have the same things that we have today. Life was simpler. But it was on the verge of exploding, and, somewhere in the back of our minds, we knew it.

If you had told us we'd have mini-computers that we could carry with us in our pockets and reference at random to show videos (VIDEOS! Psh! Yeah right! Get the VHS tape out, guys) to our friends, or to check our email. I would have laughed.

For those of us who look with anxiety to our future in this techno-world of cyber-space, just remember all the good that can come out of it. Think of all the people we can reach now! Think of the knowledge we have at our fingertips! And look at the good that technology has done for us! Seriously - just look at the new drone ambulances they're developing! It's so darn cool!

The sad part is, I really don't have to go on and on about the downsides to this brave new world. Everyone seems to be stunningly familiar with those.

My question concerning these things is this: how do we take this endless sea of knowledge and connectivity and use it for good? How do we become the people to develop the next drone ambulance? And, moreover, how to we get ourselves to want that? How do we look inside ourselves (not our phones), to see the possibilities for good with this newness we have? And how do we make them into desires to see that goodness realized?

It's easy to demonize these marvels when they can so easily be used for evil. And it's startlingly easy to overlook any potential harm. The difficulty is in finding the middle ground that will allow us to do the most good - to become the best people we can be. But once we find ourselves there, that is when we can really improve the world.

"Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others..."

Colossians 3:23

As always, much love!
Ceci Galvin
CYM, St. John the Evangelist

Day In, Day Out

We're going into a new season of Youth Ministry. Does it feel any different? Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't. Do you ever have someone ask you on your birthday, "Do you feel any older?"

We all seem to answer the same way: "Ha...no."

Remember the things we talked about last year? Who are you? How do you pray? How do you, personally, relate to problems in the world?

Now apply the things you learned about yourself to now.

Who are you now? Do you pray the same way? Do you still relate that way to the world?

For most of us, the answer will be no. A lot can change in a year. I certainly don't consider myself exactly the same as I would have this time last year. I know more now. I've changed. I've seen more of the world, even just a little. Every little bit counts.

I once heard a young woman talk about her journey with God, and she said something amazing: "Even though I got angry at God sometimes, I never stopped talking to Him. Even if I was just yelling at Him or whining to Him. I never stopped."

Sometimes we'll get mad about things. We'll start seeing things in a different light. We discover things - happy things, sad things, things that make us seethe. We grow and we learn and we change. But one thing should stay the same. No matter what else changes - we should strive to keep one thing constant.

Talk to God.

Even if you're angry. Even if you're hurt and you don't understand. Through the happy things and the sad things and the scary things and the crazy things. Talk. Talk all the time. Talk day in and day out. About anything. Everything. Get mad. Be bored. Change. Grow. But talk. Never stop talking.

"...be gracious to me, Lord; to you I call all the day."

~Psalm 86:3

Much love!
Ceci Galvin
CYM, St. John the Evangelist