I spent two weekends ago in Nor Cal (northern California for all you out-of-state folks who don’t get our lingo) for a cousins wedding. The first one of my generation to tie the knot to be exact, so it was a pretty big deal. There hasn’t been an occasion that brought this much of us together for a while, and needless to say it was something worth getting excited for. It was also the time for me to share my upcoming trip with my relatives, to get them on board with me and get their support.
Being a family gathering, this is the place for a bunch of kids to run around, and the adults to impart their wisdom on us 20-somethings, as we emerge into this thing called “adulthood.” Unfortunately, we are exposed to a bad job market, after years of excessive borrowing, and we inherit a ruinous federal debt, not to mention the impending doom that is social security. We’re fighting for scraps; people will compete ferociously once they see someone offer an unpaid internship. In contrast though, we have it much easier than they did. They came here as refugees from a broken motherland and through hard work managed to establish strong communities here in the USA.
Through the supervision, coaching, mentoring, and tutoring, that they put us through, they push us to pursue careers in medicine, science, and engineering, because of an insecurity that stems from their chaotic past. They view education and a prestigious vocation as means to a better life. Them pushing us is no doubt an act of compassion, but it is also coupled with a sense of arrogance and fear. Instead of the grace and truth that we sometimes so desperately need to hear. The truth is this, you are more loved than you can possibly imagine; in spite of the degree you hold, your career, and the money that you make. All this time you’ve been put on the spotlight, but it’s not about you. You are free from the burden of the American Dream; your chains are broken. If you ever choose to acknowledge this love however, you will never settle for anything less ever again. It is not like anything you experienced before. It will call you to do radical but great things. It will empower you to mend what is broken and redeem what is lost. And it waits, for you.
“God will not look you over for medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars.” –Elbert Hubbard, American Philosopher.
