Do Your Students See You as a Mystic?
There’s no shortage of talk in 2020 about:
Covid-19
The November election
The Supreme Court nomination process
Racism
Protests
Natural disasters
The list goes on and on. Before you know it, your campus ministry is purely in reaction mode to the next event in the news. I’m obviously painting in broad strokes here (which is never fair!) but let’s take a good look in the mirror.
Before we become “experts” in forming our consciences, climate change and police reform, are we mystics? Are we spending intentional amounts of time with the Lord on a daily basis? Are scaffolds in place to keep us accountable and humble (spiritual direction, Reconciliation, small groups, etc.)?
Our students need us to be holy, plain and simple.
No amount of conscience-forming prior to the election and clever messaging on Instagram will outdo the power of a praying, humble Christian. A quote stopped me in my tracks this past week as I prepared for this post:
“Christian leaders cannot simply be persons who have well-informed opinions about the burning issues of our time. Their leadership must be rooted in the permanent, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus, and they need to find there the source for their words, advice and guidance.”
Let’s pause today. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to make us mystics- for ourselves and those we lead.