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A DISTANT TEENAGER
Several days into his exchange I got
an email from the adviser at the school he was visiting: “Can you suggest ways
that I might try to get him more involved? He seems very distant and
unconnected.” So I called the student on his cell phone and encouraged him: “This is a
whole new situation, an opportunity for you to take a chance and experience new things, maybe get to know some new people.” I'm not sure it worked. But, at least I gave it a shot.
When he
returned from his trip he needed to join up with one of our experiential
education projects (which is what all our students do doing May). He got
permission to join a popular course that is the most hands-on and engaging experiential course in
the school. After four days the teacher of the project came to me and asked ““Can you suggest ways that I might try to get him more involved? He seems
very distant and unconnected.”
I feel so sorry for the kid!
Imagine sliding through your whole life "distant and unconnected?"
Then this morning I came across this passage
in Acts. It's assigned at the first reading for mass for today (Saturday):
Now there
came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of
Alexandria
I noticed the word “ardent.”
This is a clever translation of the Greek word “zeo,” literally to boil or to seethe;
it’s usually used figuratively to describe emotions such as anger, love, and
eagerness. Paul uses it in Romans 12:11 to encourage his readers “be ardent in spirit” with regard to their Christian life.
In the passage from Acts Apollos is described as
burning, ardent, and glowing with enthusiasm for the Gospel. I thought of my
student who evidently doesn’t seem to experience that kind of enthusiasm about anything.
People can get enthusiastic and
ardent about any number of things, from model railroading and gardening to joining Mothers
Against Drunk Driving. Some of my students are that way about soccer,
basketball or wrestling. But not this kid.
As I was reflecting on my uninvolved student I suddenly thought “What does God think of my approach to living the gospel and to prayer?” Does God the Father sometimes say to his Son, “Can you suggest ways that we might try to get Albert more involved? He seems very distant and unconnected.”
My personal prayer can
sometimes get pretty ho-hum. My public prayer with my brothers too often is
full of distractions. My commitment to follow Jesus even when it hurts is
certainly only lukewarm.
I wonder what steps Jesus might recommend to
the Father to help Albert get more involved and “ardent?” I think I can discern
a few of their attempts to help fan the flames of faith, hope and love in this less-than-involved monk. First,
put some people in his life that he can’t help but grow connected to, such as fellow
monks who are lifelong friends, as well as relatives and friends whose love and affection
he can’t deny. Second, give him a couple of students whose enthusiasm and hope
are infectious, and a few whose pain and vulnerability call out the best in
him. Third, overwhelm him with beauty, such as some gorgeous spring weather and
the faces of kindergarten children in St. Mary’s School. Next, show him
connections every day between the scripture he’s reading and the life he’s
leading so that he’ll see clearly the immense, intense love that God has for
him. And these are just the first steps to help him get fired up!
Well, at least God is giving it a shot,
the way I did with my disconnect4ed student.
“Being ardent” is a good word-for-the-week because it can help prepare me for next Sunday, May 27, the Solemnity
of Pentecost. I hope that when the tongues of fire start hovering over my head
that I’ll prove to be ready to be kindled into flame by the Spirit despite my tendency
to be “very distant and unconnected.”
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| "And you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." |
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