..::On Kenosis::..

this week we said a reluctanct good-bye to 26 of our students. each of them is returning to the world that we have tried so desperately to protect them from and prepare them for. some will be heading to college, some will join the job-corps, and some have decided that things would work out best if they just fended for themselves.

each chose a path that they felt best suited them...please god don't let those choices be mistakes.

the moment has come and gone in which you cling to them one last time as tightly as possible, whisper in their ears a few more tid-bits of advice and improvised wisdom you've collected through out your own years:

"believe in who you are, and don't let people change you"
"remember where you came from"
"don't forget that love is always the best possible option"
"you always have a place of acceptance right here"
"take chances, but don't be stupid"
"don't let your pride prevent you from hearing good advice"

maybe the work you've done will not have been in vain...

your only hope is that sometime in the past few years and maybe even in that final moment, something sinks in. something hits home with them so much so that they diligently carry it with them and allow it to guide them along their way. by chance it's not just your voice speaking from within, hopefully your voice is being drowned out by the still small voice of the ONE who knows them best. that would be nice.

it's all a hit or miss isn't it?

watching helplessly as these few leave and forcing yourself to say farewell makes the anticipation grow for those moments that you have yet to experience with the ones that remain. while those moments are in fact numbered, you still have the chance to pull them aside and whisper a few tid-bits of advice and improvised wisdom into their lives.

maybe it will take. maybe it won't. we'll see i guess.

jared.

Posted by jared slack at Friday, May 26, 2006 | Permalink | Comments

ok. So I don't really believe in the whole meticulous providence thing. i don't think any of us do, or we wouldn't do half the stuff that we've done (or "will do" depending on your perspective).

If God had any part in that time that I shoved a yard stick into my brother's mouth, ripping the back of his throat open, and nearly killing him (it's a long story...), then God's got some explaining to do.

however, I will say this... well atleast until the day that he tells me to say otherwise. (ok that was a joke. you were supposed to laugh, but I imagine most of you don't get the irony)

ok. so. I will say this: I believe that God is highly involved in the workings of the world. I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I have lost sight of this reality. (and no. I am not referring to this, rather I am talking about this, and yes, I still think about that)

Coming here to Waco has always seemed to be a form of settling. A concession if you will. I promised myself to be here only as long as my circumstances demand, and after that I am gone. I never expected much from my time here, nor did I expect much from myself. Truett was #2 on a list that was only one item long. I am supposed to be there not here. You cannot convince me otherwise.

God didn't make me financially incapable any more than God made my mom confiscate my Rambo action figure as a result of the aforementioned incident with my brother and his esophagus. So don't go there. I'm a highly trained cynic, and you don't stand a chance against my impenetrable walls of negativity and anti-authoritative tendencies.

All that being said. I love my job. I won't go into specifics, simply because of the nature of my position and the place that I work. But I have the opportunity to work with the most incredible people in the world. I spend my time combating social labels and uncloaking the existence of goodness and hope in the face of dire circumstances.

About a month ago I witnessed a miracle (don't picture this). I won't tell you what it was, because it was for me to see and not you. It was my glimmer of hope that I had been needing for quite some time.

Experiencing goodness never gets old. It's like hugging my grandmother. It offers a fresh dose of acceptance and a damn good starting place.

i love my job. maybe God has something to do with that.

jared.

Posted by jared slack at Thursday, May 11, 2006 | Permalink | Comments

alright. only two more days of finals.

Monday - Church History - a.k.a. - big pisser.

Tuesday - Scriptures - a.k.a. - bigger pisser.

hoping all is well with you and yours.
jared.

Posted by jared slack at Sunday, May 07, 2006 | Permalink | Comments