Jun 27, 2022
This week I had the pleasure of addressing the secondary chapel.
They have been listening to a series of talks on what defines us. They have been challenged to realise they are not defined by what they have, what they do, what they achieve, or what people say about them.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of challenging the secondary students to realise that what they want, whilst it does not define them, determines the direction. So, it is vitally important they evaluate the why of their desires.
As I was preparing the talk, I became critically aware of the relentless barrage our students encounter of advertisements and opinions that seek to direct their desires, wants or perceptions of need. Even more so, I became aware of their difficulty to avoid this.
Our world constantly urges them to believe that to be satisfied in this life they must instantly receive what they desire, and it then hounds them regarding what they should desire.
I’m sure we are all familiar with the story of Aladdin? He finds a genie and get three wishes and uses two of them to obtain the power and riches he needs to get the girl of his dreams. The problem, of course, is that he sacrifices his sense of integrity, identity and important friendships along the way to achieve his desire. I wonder if the genie, had he had the power, would have warned Aladdin about the perils of instant gratification in the pursuit of desires? I wonder if the genie, had he had the power, would have rather granted Aladdin what he needed over what he wanted? I wonder what the genie, had he had the power, would have granted Aladdin?
The Bible frames the challenge from a different perspective and says where our treasure (what we value most) is, there our heart (the core of who we are) will also be (Matthew 12:34). However, it does not stop there, it goes on to suggest that what a person values, or thinks in their heart, is what they will be (Prov 23:7).
The challenge then, that is clearly before us, both as parents and Christian educators, is to ensure that our students understand the ‘why’ of their desire, what true satisfaction looks like and the power of delayed gratification. It is critical that they understand the difference between desire and need. If we don’t educate in this area, it is almost as if we are handing them over to the wolves of this world who will devour their identity and purpose for their own satisfaction.
In John 10, Jesus clearly talks to his disciples about the fact that he is the Good Shepherd. He’s not the hired help who comes and goes merely for his own satisfaction or gain, rather he is the one who constantly guards, provides, and protects us so we can enjoy all that he created for us to enjoy. Jesus shares that true satisfaction is not found in earthly desires, but in knowing who we have been created to be, and Who created us to be.
I shared with the students, that when I first realised the fundamental value of Christianity lies not its rules and regulations, but rather the personal realisation and relationship with Jesus, I was truly satisfied, truly content and able to stop striving for all the world was telling me was core purpose. To paraphrase the words of Aladdin’s great genie, I realised I ‘aint ever had a friend like Jesus’.
It is so important as Christian educators, and as parents who want the best for our children, that we know that to truly love, grow, teach and prepare our children we mustn’t grant their every wish, validating desires just because they have them. We must be the genie they need, not the one they want. Our purpose as parents and educators is to provide our children with clear boundaries and understandings so they can begin to navigate the wolves of this world and safely understand their desires to determine directions of hope and purpose that lead to the abundant life Jesus speaks of (John 10:10).
Blessings,
Jonno
