Into the future

Last week, we said our 'farewells' to the class 10 students at our partner school of 8 years. It was a sweet time recalling past memories while aspiring to future hopes. The students just finished their final exam - looking ahead to a relaxing month off of school but also to an unchartered new chapter in their lives as they head to different schools.

They've been asked many times, 'What do you want be in the future?' They found an answer to quell the questioning - whether it's 'I want to become a teacher' or 'I want to join the army' or 'I'll find out soon'

'What do you want to be?' A question usually pertaining to a career choice - a career that's been clearly defined and hopefully one that is sure to bring in a steady stream of revenue. It's the answer that pleases most. But is that all there is to consider in 'future' and 'life'? Becoming a career choice?

Another question that we pondered together at our class 10 farewell emphasized another angle to 'future life' - it was 'What do you want to make?' MAKE. That assumes we can all make something, that we're all creative people and capable of making something new and valuable. A beautiful environment, more jobs for our peers, a thing of beauty to share ... what is it that we feel called to create? This question puts another spin on how we view our futures, our choices, our time and investments - more than focusing on what we want to get or do in life, we get to also focus on what we want to make.

Of course, both questions - 'What do you want to be? and 'What do you want to make?' - are both worthy of consideration, especially when hoping for the future and all the possibilities that lie ahead. But when we think of what we want to make, perhaps the thought that we've got something worth offering can inspire another narrative for how we think of ourselves, our life journey, and our intrinsic value as imago Dei.

I'm praying that as our students learn to spread their wings and fly into their futures, that they not only have incredible success in their career directions, but that they continue to create places, moments, and pieces of beauty that bring deep blessing into every new encounter.