I want to be a Do It Yourself (DIY) guy but I’m not. I don’t think I have the gifts and I am pretty sure I don’t have the patience, so when I do venture into the rough waters of taking on a project I want it to be ‘as advertised.’ If it looks simple, let's keep it simple. Nothing is more disruptive to my schedule and damaging to my ego than having something simple be surprisingly hard. There are countless things in our everyday lives that seem simple but are not easy. I’ve listed a few below:
Waking up without an alarm
Matching sock
Inserting a USB stick
Untangling headphones
Folding a fitted sheet
Replacing tiny screws on reading glasses
Investing in the stock market
Using the motion sensor on a bathroom faucet
Replacing windshield wipers
Getting the last bit of dust in a dustpan
Asking someone out on a date
Remembering a grocery list
Studying online
On paper they look doable but a few moments later, no instruction manual, YouTube tutorial or step-by-step process seems to help. I’ve been a Young Life leader for decades on all types of teams and contexts and several times a year I reach the same conclusion. Doing good Young Life is SIMPLE but not EASY!
Now, when I say Young Life is simple, I mean elegantly simple!
After 80 years as a mission, we have refined the elements of the Young Life mission down to a fine point.
We know three things:
1. We know CHRIST.
2. We know KIDS.
3. We know HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER!
And our methods seem reasonable too!
● We PRAY for them.
● We GO where they are.
● We EARN the right to be heard.
● We PROVIDE opportunities to experience Christ.
● We INVITE them to respond.
● We EQUIP them for a life of faith.
● We WORK alongside a mission community.
So what’s the problem? Why does a goal that seems simple not seem easy? I think it is because we are in the business of relationships, faithfulness, transformation, brokenness, forgiveness and PEOPLE!
This work of Young Life is not like tying your shoes. It is hard, costly, slow and will change you and anyone you come in contact with. We are talking about the long journey from repentance to belief. It makes sense to me that the most common phrase from the mouth of Jesus is “follow me.”
Simple.
In the Gospel of Mark, you can find that phrase 17 times. Up to Mark chapter eight, “follow me” means one thing: “Give me your PRESENCE.” After Mark 8:34, “follow me” means something totally different: “Give me your LIFE.”“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:‘Whoever wants to be my disciplemust deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” — Mark 8:34, NIV Now that is not easy! Through the 16 chapters in Mark, I think Jesus might be saying, “I told you it (faith) was simple, but it (discipleship) is going to be hard.”
Basically:The simplicity of the gospel makes it ATTAINABLE.The challenge of embracing a faith for a lifetime makes it VALUABLE. So let's do something hard. Let’s share the gospel with our presence and our whole lives today! I would love to hear your thoughts.
“Following Jesus is simple, but not easy. Love until it hurts and then go love more.”— Mother Teresa
By Ken “Tank” Tankersley, Senior Vice President, Community Networks
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