Thanks for writing this. Your sentiments are for sure shared. This is a dichotomy that I’ve wrestled with for several years but was unable to articulate it as clearly as you have, or feel settled on “which side of the truck” is right to scoot closer too.
I interact with the family of the mugging and lost child almost every week. Seeing how they carry the scars in their everyday disposition now compared to what it was, say, 7 or 8 years ago is truly sobering. Then an hour later I walk into a classroom where part of the goal is trying to encourage youth and college students to consider and explore the potential excitement and joy in a life and ministry outside of their current bubble and culture. Doing so sometimes feels insensitive to the cost the former, and others I know, have paid.
Thanks for the reminder that it’s only in and through the cross where such opposing realities can concurrently stand, and because of the cross that we continue to press into them.
Thanks for sharing this, Stephen. It's so well said. I hope that readers will press on to your comment in addition to the essay itself. It's a tangible picture of sitting in the tension "in the middle of the truck."
Also, I love that family. They are incredible people!
Thanks for writing this. Your sentiments are for sure shared. This is a dichotomy that I’ve wrestled with for several years but was unable to articulate it as clearly as you have, or feel settled on “which side of the truck” is right to scoot closer too.
I interact with the family of the mugging and lost child almost every week. Seeing how they carry the scars in their everyday disposition now compared to what it was, say, 7 or 8 years ago is truly sobering. Then an hour later I walk into a classroom where part of the goal is trying to encourage youth and college students to consider and explore the potential excitement and joy in a life and ministry outside of their current bubble and culture. Doing so sometimes feels insensitive to the cost the former, and others I know, have paid.
Thanks for the reminder that it’s only in and through the cross where such opposing realities can concurrently stand, and because of the cross that we continue to press into them.
Thanks for sharing this, Stephen. It's so well said. I hope that readers will press on to your comment in addition to the essay itself. It's a tangible picture of sitting in the tension "in the middle of the truck."
Also, I love that family. They are incredible people!
Reminds me of our conversation today about pastoral ministry. I’ve experienced the wisdom from you.
Thanks Jeremy. That was a meaningful conversation—and this is a meaningful encouragement!