If you ask me what I want to do in my future, I'll likely tell you that I'm not quite sure yet but I know I want to work with vulnerable children and youth particularly those in-crisis. Don't get me wrong: I know this is the vaguest answer I could possibly give you while still kind of answering your question. The truth is, I really don't know what it is I want to do.
I've been toying around with a lot of ideas lately for after graduation plans (if you're reading this, Mom, don't worry, I haven't decided anything yet). I've considered graduate school to pursue Early Childhood Education or perhaps Special Education. Some programs even offer a combination of the two. I've considered taking a year off and traveling and serving with a program such as the World Race or the Peace Corps. I've considered the more traditional idea of finding a job and settling down and working before going back to school if that's what I decide in the end.
Basically, I don't know what I want to do yet.
But I do know that the Lord has placed a very special people group on my heart to be served regardless of where and how I end up doing that. The large population of youth facing crisis situations seems to only be growing in our country today be it the loss of parents/family to illness or death, be it getting in trouble with the law, be it young women getting pregnant as teenagers and opting to raise their children, be it a child born with a developmental disability and no one to advocate for him--these are all youth facing crisis.
I want to help them all.
I had the opportunity to meet with the Executive Director of the children's home I am serving with this summer and in the midst of our conversation, we came to the topic of crisis. It had nothing to do with a conversation on my future career path, but I couldn't help putting the two ideas together as they fit so perfectly. He was explaining that the Chinese symbol for "crisis" is actually two other Chinese symbols combined together to create a new symbol. These symbols are "danger" and "opportunity."
He doesn't actually know Chinese, and I can't say that I do either to validate this assertion, but Google seemed to do so for us...
Regardless of whether or not the Chinese intended to provide this beautiful illustration, I find hope in the idea of crisis from their symbol. To recognize that every crisis holds a sense of danger is true. Be it a crisis of belief or a crisis that these children I desire to work with are facing, there is danger in the immediate moment as well as the unknown future that comes with it. The danger could be physical or it could be psychological. For many situations it is one or both of these and also a spiritual danger.
However, all crises provide great opportunities alongside the danger. There are opportunities to grow and move forward towards a healthy future, and there are opportunities to give up and allow the danger to overtake you. Opportunities, I believe, often feel like mini-crises in themselves.
As I seek out the Lord's Will for my future, I know that I am being asked to be an advocate for children and youth who have a plethora of opportunities ahead of them and no idea how to choose one let alone a healthy one. I desire to be a guide to protect from the physical, psychological and spiritual danger that come with crises. I seek to create healthy opportunities and provide children the means by which to follow these opportunities to fruition.
Like I said, I don't know what the future holds for me. It feels a bit like a crisis on some days. But I know that despite the danger of the unknown, there are countless opportunities for me as I trust in the Lord. He has a plan laid before me and will continue to show me the steps one at a time as I need to know them. For now, knowing that I am striving to remain in the center of His Will is where I want to me.
How can you seize opportunities from the danger in the crises that life throws your way?
(Bonus: story time for anyone who made it this far into the post! Minutes before posting this I had a ten-minute standoff with the world's largest spider in my apartment at 12:15am. Okay, so it was probably only three inches in diameter with its legs spread out, but it wasn't a daddy long legs, and it was blocking my path to my room while taunting me with too many legs and eyes. It's still alive somewhere, so stay tuned for the rest of the story. Hopefully, I'll reign victorious.)
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