Generation Distinct by Hannah Gronowski

Author:Hannah Gronowski [Gronowski, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RELIGION / Christian Living / Personal Growth, RELIGION / Christian Living / Spiritual Growth
Publisher: The Navigators
Published: 2020-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

THOSE PEOPLE

If we were to gather a group of young adults in a room and ask them, “How do you fight for justice?” chances are we would hear a smattering of responses.

“Buy fair-trade coffee.”

“Hand a sandwich out to the homeless.”

“Talk about it on social media.”

“Wear a T-shirt that supports a good cause.”

“Pass out Thanksgiving meals every November.”

“Volunteer at a homeless shelter every few months.”

And those are not bad answers. They just don’t capture the magnitude of what is really required to usher justice into our world. We love justice. We love being people who care about justice. We love being considered advocates for justice. Just as long as it doesn’t actually change anything about the way we live.

Just as long as justice remains an activity we add into our lives when it feels convenient,

and doesn’t interfere with the rest of our rhythms and routines,

and is still an extra-credit activity for those really good people,

and doesn’t interfere with our self-care,

and doesn’t affect our bank accounts,

and is something we can engage in when it feels good for us,

. . . then we love justice.

If we are the heroes of our own stories, we get to engage in justice when it makes us look good. We can all of a sudden care about justice when we feel the need or when it’s cool to post about it on social media. We can show up to the shelter, or the event, or the food pantry, or the street corner when it fits into our schedule, when it fits into our lives, or when it gives us the thrill that we’re doing something that matters.

We get to be the hero. And, let’s be honest, it feels really good to be the hero.

A few years ago, while I was traveling, I found myself sitting in the auditorium of a church with a fairly young congregation. It was a cool church, and it was clear they were growing at a rapid pace. The lobby buzzed with energy as young people sipped their coffee and caught up with friends. When I walked in, they welcomed me and showed me around and introduced me to some bright-eyed twentysomethings who talked about how much they loved their community at this church. They gave me a mug and one more handshake, and I wandered into the auditorium.

I found a seat in the middle and sat down on the edge of the row. I looked around at the empty auditorium because, let’s be honest, people who are new to the church are always the first to sit down.

Eventually, the music began to play. As the auditorium filled with people, I tried to sing along to the unfamiliar songs they were playing. When we sat, a young man in a collared shirt and camel-colored suede boots jumped up on stage with gusto to give the announcements for the day.

He talked about the small-group sign-ups and the young-adult gathering taking place after the service and the baptisms coming up in two weeks. But when he shifted gears, I looked up from my coffee and listened closely.

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