And a Child Shall Lead Them
Billy Graham passed away at the age of 99 this morning. Throughout the day, people have rightfully been lauding his impact on the world. He preached good news to millions of people and brought hope to individuals from all over the globe. He was not perfect nor would he claim to be. But his life is a testimony to the difference that an individual can make. Reflecting on his life has caused me to look on the past, but also to look towards the future.
In the wake of the tragic mass shooting at Parkland, I have been amazed at the courage and boldness of high school students who have spoken out. In a world in which many adults, including myself, have reluctantly resigned themselves to the perpetuation of this violent madness, these young women and men have drawn a line in the sand.
Today they have gone to the state capitol in Tallahassee to hold their representatives accountable. Students across the country are walking out of schools in solidarity. They are speaking with conviction in front of large crowds. I have not been able to tear my eyes away from Florida all afternoon.
The path forward for these brave students is difficult and complicated. Yesterday the Florida legislature overwhelmingly voted to not debate a possible assault weapons ban. Yet I watch these students and I have more hope that the tide in this epidemic of violence may be turning, even if it is shifting ever so slowly. I know many will say that this is a political issue, but the sight of dead children in schools is one that I believe should transcend partisanship. At least that is the opinion of this father and youth minister.
People sometimes ask me why I work with youth. My answers usually make vague circles around the fact that they are full of life, that faith is something that they are still exploring and seeking after, that they don't accept things the way they are. It's not very eloquent and some days I ask that question to myself.
But if you asked me that question today, I would point to Florida. I work with students because they will not accept the world as it is. They know when they see injustice. And if they have been given enough space in their world to speak up about that injustice then they will. Young people don't always get it, but when they do, they get it.
One of the reasons I work with students is because I think they are the best hope to get done the stuff in this world that, for whatever reasons, my generation and older generations won't. Getting this stuff done is part of our mission as followers of Jesus. We are called to point people toward a love of God and a love of neighbor. And we are supposed to fiercely love the vulnerable, the marginalized, the downtrodden. Children, women, and men shouldn't be dying in places of learning, in places of worship.
It seems that children and youth are better attuned to injustice. I don't want to say that they are perfect or do not act in their own selfish interests at times. But the young often seem to have intense, laser-like gaze on what is not fair. By the time that we get into adulthood, we tend sand those edges down. We rationalize the injustice away because that is just how the world works.
Maybe I need to work with students not only because they might help save the world but they might help save myself. Because I have felt that righteous fire inside of me. I recognize it when I see these students. I remember talking about how we can bring God's hope to the world, how we can root out injustice, how we can lift up those who are hurting. That conviction hasn't disappeared, but it is not often acted upon. I hope that these students, our students will not let that fire for justice be extinguished. I hope I can learn from their courage.
A final older person anecdote: When I was watching the streets of Tallahassee fill up earlier, I suddenly remembered a song that I hadn't thought about in maybe a decade. "C'mon, C'mon" is a remix that was tacked on to the end of some editions of the Switchfoot album Oh! Gravity. It's more an unfinished thought than a complete song, but that thought struck like lightning as I watched young people march because their friends had needlessly died:
"So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon / Let's not be our parents / Oh c'mon, c'mon, c'mon / Let's follow this through / Oh c'mon, c'mon, c'mon / Everything's waiting / We will rise with the wings of the dawn / when everything's new"
No insult intended to any of our parents, but whether you are 17 or 97 they left things undone. You and I know that there is injustice in the world. You and I know that there are places where our malice and hatred tries its darnedest to eclipse the light of God's love. Acting on that will look different for different people, but the faithful response of one person can make a difference. Everything's waiting. Let's take a lesson from these kids and follow this through.
