To the Young Adults
To the Young Adults
To the Young Adults
To the Young Adults,
I envision you reading this letter in whatever hot minute you can fit it into, but I hope that by the end of it, it will be a minute you will remember.
You would not believe where I am writing this…on the skinniest, wobbliest bunk bed you have ever seen, in the capital city of a country that is not recognized globally….and believe it or not, between learning the Russian greetings, shovelling clay, and enjoying bowls of Ukrainian soups, I have you on my mind.
I have three things to tell you.
1. How proud I am of you.
You live at a peculiar place, perhaps it feels as wobbly as this bunk.
It’s the end of 16+ years of schooling and that usual routine, it’s the shedding of old self-concepts, and it’s the disengaging from your teens and embracing the grown-up in each of you.
It’s also the beginnings of big choices; which car, where to live, who to love the serious way, strategizing your very own career plan, assets, new goals, perhaps babies.
Culturally, North America, you live in a high-performance and highly image-conscious society and I am so proud of you.
You look so handsome and so beautiful in real life. You look better to me than the magazines. I am even prouder of what all you have been through individually; you have studied hard, worked many jobs maybe even at once, put in hours upon hours, you juggle family dynamics, fitness, and fun, and you have versed yourselves in many life experiences, skills, talents, hobbies, and still make the time to visit your grandparents, or perhaps volunteer to look after someone else’s.
But if you are anything like me, you still wonder if you are enough.
2. Being enough.
Are we enough? Smart enough? Witty enough? Conversational enough? Fun enough? Serious enough? Strong enough? Beautiful enough? Stable enough? Athletic enough? Successful enough? Saving enough? Planning enough? Sleeping enough? Healthy enough? Reading enough? Artistic enough? Individual enough? Open-minded enough? Opinionated enough? Assertive enough? Kind enough? Focused enough? Happy enough?
Listen to Will Reagan’s song “Take a Moment”.
“Take a moment to remember, who God is and who I am, there You go, lifting my load again. No longer am I held by, the yoke of this world, come up under the yoke of Jesus, His yoke is easy, His burden is so light. Your love carries me, out of valleys, and the darkest places.”
May we each take a moment, and hover here.
We aren’t enough. For the world’s unrealistic standards.
But we are each individually enough; cherished enough, valued enough, loved enough, that Jesus would leave His rightful Heavenly place, put skin on, and die painfully yet purposefully.
We are enough for God. And with Him He helps us be enough for our place in our world.
Always remember to back up and gain some heavenly perspective.
You are enough.
Your life has been changed now.
So that’s very cool. What a good read so far huh?
3. Lastly.
Hunter Hayes has this particular song that speaks to the part of us that goes after more in life.
“I don’t want good and I don’t want good enough.
I don’t want easy.
Who needs to play it safe?
Are you with me?
Let’s be crazy.”
I want crazy for me and I want crazy for you.
I support you young adults in all your goings and comings, may you continue to live out your purposes, love fiercely, work hard, play hard, and leave it all on the floor.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so no one may boast.
For we are His WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand SO THAT WE WOULD WALK IN THEM.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Live changed now, from the moment you close this blog…
You are enough.
Love, Alana
P.S. If anyone has an issue with Hunter Hayes, come at me bro 😉
