I had a youth who looked forward to the mission trips he was
able to take every summer because they “filled” him up. Although Sunday mornings and some youth group
events help to fill him spiritually he would slowly but surely feel his
spiritual meter sink through the year and get recharged every summer. I worried about him as he “left” youth group
and went off to college as he wouldn’t have this time to be filled up
anymore. I hoped that he would find
something else or some other way to fill him up…I don’t believe he has and he
doesn’t attend church regularly.
This sounds like a classic case and in fact I just read in a
book a quote from an older church member saying that it is not only expected
but anticipated that youth leave the church right after college and that’s ok
because once they are settled they will come back – but you see that was the
churches mistake…they are not coming back. These youth – from Russ’ generation down,
left during their college years and yet are remarkably missing now that they
have settled down, had children and are comfortable in their lives.
You see today what is missing for people – young and old is
that spiritual fulfillment and for each it will come differently. For some it may come in more physical forms
and others more mission work. What is great about this is we have several
different churches around the world because we get our spiritual fulfillment
differently. The big key is finding
yours…
So this week and into next think about what fills you
up…what keeps you going when the goings get rough?
I can tell you that for me it is simple – meditation. Just sitting in the silence and lifting
everything up to God knowing that if I am still enough I will know God’s
presence. And for me, those moments fill
me up for a crazy day…
