So, yes of course, Big Event was amazing, as always. There's never a time where I can say it sucked, or it was just alright. God is simply always working in so many people's lives there's no denying of what he's doing at the big event, or as a matter of fact, in any other place, people, or time.
What I got out of Big Event were two major points. As I was leading a small group in the "Living for Jesus" track, I was leading others into living for Jesus as well as learning more about myself and how I can live more for Jesus. Here's some of my reflections:
* Community: Many people have different communities in their lives. For me, I have a church community, college circle, my 8 girls, the SIC, etc etc. During these get-together's with my different circle of friends, there's a lot of hanging out, chilling, thinking about where to go and what to do, laughing, sitting around, and being in each other presence. Don't get me wrong, it's great and all, but sometimes, we wonder if there's more to that in this life. And that's what stuck out to me a lot in the community talk they gave at the retreat. For many of us, our communities are pretty superficial, we can hang out twenty-four hours a day with a group of friends but at the end of the day, we leave with just a few laughters, but not something really deep and meaningful that would edify us in our lives. And we get so used to it so much that we think that's all there is to life: meeting people and just enjoying each others presence. But what would it look like if the communities we were in were driven by purpose, value, and something that's focused on (not just something godly or holy), but on trying to encourage each other to live our lives to the fullest instead of being content with where we are in our lives. Because obviously, we all know we can do so much more fulfilling lives, but we don't and we just get used to (That's just a thought). I asked someone a while back, "Who do they know that's ambitious and motivated?" and unfortunately, she said "no one". Are we going to be satisfied with that? It's fine if some do, but I'm not.
* Important things: When we like something, we'll talk about it right? For you, it might be bubble tea, your blackberry, and the kids you teach. For me, it's sushi, bubble tea, avocados, and texting. We talk about it all the time that we already know what we like and in some way, shape, or form, they are pretty important to us, that's why we talk about it all the time. Now let's talk about the things you love; you love your boyfriend, God, your friends, family, and playing monopoly deal (lol). For me, it's God, InterVarsity, church stuff, family, Ambit Energy, etc. But it's funny because we pick and choose what we want to talk to with different groups of people. I always talk about the things I love and the things I like with my church friends because I figure they'll understand me just a little more. But even for some Christians, I don't talk about all the things I love because I feel that they don't care. But for some reason, I never talk to my non-Christian friends about the things I love, but they know what I like, or I hope they do. And the question that sticks out: If it's so important to me, why don't I ever mention it?
That's what happened to one of the guys who was leading the track and giving a message about it. He said, a couple of years back, when he became a Christian, he still hid the fact that he was a Christian to all his non believer friends, but one day, it came out, and they found out he was a Christian. So his friend was like, "If this God this is so important to you, why didn't you ever mention it?" Because this guy didn't set the example for his friends, this guy till this day never became a believer because he had the thought that Christians can't even live up to who they are. Now, that's pretty upsetting right?
So it made me reflect on my life and why I don't talk about the important things in my life to some of my different circle of friends. I was trying to reason out; it's because they don't care for it, they don't want to hear it so I don't want to tell them what they don't want to hear, they're not mature enough, and all those other things. But then if we reverse it around, my friends talk to me about their deep concerns all the time -- whether it's about guys, boys, men (because that's 80% of the conversation), or work, or what they do when their out. And I take the time to listen to them also even though some of things they go encounter are not things that I value in. But the difference is, I still hear them out and listen to them. So, if I can listen to what it might be mundane conversation to me, why can't they listen to what I value in. I can just bring it up as casual conversation instead of making it a point to try to "convert" them.
For example: Most of the time, if someone asks what I've been up to, I'll give them just a tid-bit... stuff like, "oh, I'm just doing church stuff, volunteering with Baruch, building my business with Ambit Energy, and spending time with family". But their response would be all the little things they do during the day. In each of the activities I mention, there is so much more involved in it that can be a blessing or encouragement to others, but why do I keep it just as that and not mention more of how God is working in each aspect of my life. Or, many times, my girlfriends talk about their boyfriends all the time, and then when it comes to me, it's always a: nope, I don't have one yet. So what? that's not the important aspect of my life, I can talk about other things also.
So my conclusion is: If it's so important to me, then I shall mention it. Why hesitate? After all, it might be a blessing to others. What's the point of just keeping it to myself, that's what I have a mouth for and that's what I live for. And, if I'm so unsatisfied with the community that I live, why don't I do something about it? If no body does it, somebody's bound to, and I see the need, I need's God's strength to help me fill the need.
