It's my senior year and everyone is trying to make the same decisions: Where am I applying to college? What do I want to major in? What do I even want to do with my life? Has the time come when I really have to grow up? And as we ask ourselves these questions and long for a quick glimpse of the future we're all burning out. By that I mean we're stressed, anxious for difficulties that in our minds will "inevitably" arise, worried about finances to pay for degrees that might not get us anywhere in life, and worst of all we're all looking around at one another terrified of making a decision that we could regret someday. This "choosing a college phase" is one of the saddest and most depressing things I've experienced with all of my peers... besides maybe our awkward stages of middle school. I hate it. And I know that it shouldn't be this way.
Everyone is telling us that we're "supposed" to be shoving our lives into these little cookie-cutter-perfect-scenarios. We've heard it all before: Go to college, rack up 40,000 in student debt, graduate, get a mediocre job, marry, have kids, pay off your loans, retire to a tropical place, and THAT is your life. And while most kids would laugh at this mentality or so called "American dream" right now, I guarantee that if asked to describe their life plan, it would sequence in the exact steps that I previously mentioned, with the difference of a few minor details.
Now, I don't mean to crush anyone's dreams, and quiet frankly there is nothing wrong with any of those things that I had listed. You will need to work hard and get an education in life in some form or another. I'm just begging you, all of you burnt out high school seniors out there that feel like maybe they don't want to follow the crowd another single step, to hear me out on what I think we are "supposed to do" during this stage in our lives.
Today is December 27th and I've recently sent out college applications and been accepted to a few schools. These past few months have consisted of college visits, financial aid discussions, and meeting deadlines. Again, I don't wish to look down upon any of this. I'm just telling you how I personally feel about my own situation and I'm wondering if any of you feel the same...
As young adults we are entering our prime years. Like. NOW. Twenty years from now when you have a mortgage and kids you won't be able to just go on a trip to europe or hike the appalachian trail for 3 months. You won't have the same physical energy or stamina to embark on such adventures nor the free time or lack of responsibilities. By exploring when we are young though, and taking time to truly find our passions, our whole lives will be transformed and twenty years from now we'll find ourselves on paths we've never imagined because we took our youth seriously. By seriously I mean we stopped going down the "American dream checklist" and actually sat down before God, the creator of all things, and asked him to lead us on the adventures that He has planned for us.
Now you definitely might think I'm crazy. But hear me out..
Parents are willing to spend hundreds even thousands of dollars on SAT guides or books on how to help your student land their dream career. But why are we looking to books and other people to give us those answers. I mean, if God created us (which He did) and if He loves us (which He does) and if He wants to show us how to live life to it's fullest (which He says himself) then why don't we turn to HIM when wondering what the next step is and what our lives are supposed to look like.
We rely on green paper, LED screens, and self-help books to guide our lives and find satisfaction. But it's not working. And I don't want this cheap happiness that everyone else is trading in for.
I want pure joy not cheap happiness.
I want real community not fake relationships.
I want passion and purpose to drive my life choices not pressure and fear.
We are all just trying to rise above the mess of our lives and struggles of this world. We all want to make a difference and be better. And these are wonderful desires to have...
I'm just saying that a picture, any picture, without God isn't worth anything. Any life without Christ isn't really life at all. And before we all toss up our caps and leave home in a few months to start our lives as young adults, we owe something to ourselves first. Heck, we've written the essays, we've met the deadlines, and we've sucked up to every teacher whether we've liked them or not for the past 12 years of our lives. But YOU owe something to YOURSELF now.
You owe it to yourself to take a few minutes, a few hours, or even a few days, if that's what you need, to be alone and stop thinking about what everyone else wants from you. Stop thinking about the pain, trials, and consequences for your actions that your future might hold. Sit down and ask God why you, as an individual, we're placed here on this earth in the exact circumstances that surround you. Ask Him what you're next step should be. Ask Him to fill your heart and soul with peace, a sense of security, and overflowing love that makes you confident in your identity. Ask Him to draw near and listen.
Please listen to Your Creator, Your Father, the man that died so you could live.
Life in Him is a precious gift that He wants you to have.
It's a life of freedom, love, security, joy, and so so much more.
Make sure you consider that soon.
Because you really do owe it to yourself.
