See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
College-bound students are starting their fall semester. This is a good time for me to start blogging again. I’ve missed writing to you these last few weeks.
I have a niece and 2 nephews beginning their college adventure. Their parents have been preparing their children for this day since they were infants. As they head off to universities in the south and Midwest, mom and dad are praying they retain what they have taught them about how to navigate life… personal safety, nutrition, cleanliness, kindness, personal responsibility AND good study habits!
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
This is a striking example of what we refer to as “leaving the nest”. Will all the years of love, discipline and training transfer over to life on their own? The students are elated to finally be making daily decisions for themselves. With that elation comes a little fear of whether or not they can do it.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)
I’ve had some personal experience with nest as mama birds love to build them over my terrace door. They are very diligent in their nest building. It goes very quickly. Once the nest is built, mama sits on her eggs until they hatch. Then she brings worms to nourish her little ones.
As they begin to grow, the mama bird begins to take away the padding that protected and kept them safe. The baby birds learn that their claws will allow them to stand on the once-padded floor of the nest. As their wings begin to grow, the baby birds discover if they flap them, they can go up and down in the nest. This process can take several weeks. Eventually they are confident enough to fly away from the nest. Then I can finally clean my terrace!
Just like baby birds (and college students) God wants us all to grow into the best version of ourselves. That means growing SPIRITUALLY.
In his world-renown book, The Purpose Drive Life, pastor, author, and teacher, Rick Warren tells us “Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ.”
That’s a tall order! That means we have to stop thinking like baby birds and start thinking like mature Christians.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
This will often take a real heart transformation. It will take a change in the way we think about life and what’s important to us. It will take a change in how we think about ourselves and others.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23 ( NIV)
We can’t change the way we think overnight! We’ve been taught to think in certain ways since we were born. Even our Christian values were at some point learning something new. We need to surround ourselves with others whose values we want to emulate. That’s what parents are hoping their children will do as they head off to college.
The very heart of Christianity is thinking of others’ needs instead of our own. That’s what Jesus did. Can we do that? This is a constant challenge for me.
I’m afraid my TBI and subsequent balance difficulty gives me a baby bird outlook in some situations. Is this safe? Can I do this on my own? Do I need to have someone help me AGAIN?
Then I try to remember that others LIKE to feel helpful. Doesn’t it make them feel needed? God wants us to live in harmony with others as one big family.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
Are we in a safe, comfy nest that we need to break out of to be all that God wants us to be? Just like going to college, it may be scary.
Just remember our opening scripture:
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
Dear Lord,
Why does change need to be so scary? Help us remember that You are on the journey with us. And You want Your best for us.
Help us let go of what is no longer necessary as we lean into You.
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