Living on the Edge

Introduction:

A Survivor, A Fiddler on the Roof!

There he sits, perched precariously on a rooftop, violin in hand, playing a haunting tune introducing the theme for the Fiddler on the Roof. It’s one of my favorite scenes that illustrates a life full of risk and adventure.

Would you agree that this illustrates reality for most of us? Is not life full of calculated risks? Boarding an airplane for an extended flight?; driving 75 mph on a crowded freeway?; embarking on an academic program?; marriage? Birthing children? Starting out on a new job opportunity?

The TV program “Survivor” is a metaphor describing what I mean. It was wildly popular for a time and exemplified a lust for danger and adventure. People were portrayed as survivors in supposed primitive and dangerous environments. Young strong bodies were pitted against the forces of nature. Members of the team had as one of their goals to discredit other members of the team, the idea being to vote people out of the community one by one. Intrigue and entrapment were common or order to eliminate members until only one remained, the sole survivor.

I like to think of Christian Millennials in this way, but as “Survivors in Reverse.” Whereas Survivor sought to expel the weak person in the group, Christian Millennials look for ways to include the weak link and help that person become stronger, thereby contributing to a community of committed strong individuals, a value wonderfully consistent with one of the core values of Millennials in general.

Several years ago I met a young man at a meeting in whom I sensed a sincere and open respect for my years of experience in cross cultural ministry,. Most young people, so it seemed to me, considered people over 70 to be “over the hill,” and on the downward slope. Indeed, people my own age often exude a similar attitude, that those of us nearing the bottom of the hill have little to offer.

Zach asked questions and seemed to be willing to wait for my meanderings through this experience until I eventually arrived at the core of his interest. I was impressed. One day he asked if I’d “mentor” him. Frankly I was surprised. Here was a twenty-something bright young man, articulate and intelligent asking me to be his mentor. What did I have to offer this young man? Nevertheless we agreed to meet.

Now, it should be known here that “mentoring” was not a new idea to me. In my role as a visiting facilitator with Development Associates International (DAI) one of the courses I facilitated is “Mentoring and Coaching for Leadership.” There had been others God had brought my way in counseling and mentoring relationships but none quite as direct as Zack’s request.

I felt a bit awkward. It seemed to me I needed to be mentored and Zach was a Millennial. He was not a secularized Millennial whom I had read and heard so many negative comments about, but a Millennial who had a graduate degree in Political Science and who was a self-confessed follower of Jesus. I suspected we had different political views but he seemed to be either disinterested what they were - whatever they might be. We committed ourselves to an open-ended mentoring relationship. In truth, my motives were a bit selfish; I wanted to know what made him tick. And I wanted to learn about the Christian Millennial world-view.

There’s more to say about that relationship but in summary we both learned that the stereotypes about each other’s generation though partly true were inaccurate in many ways. There was more to Zack’s Millennialism (was that a new virus?) than those articles and quips than was said from pulpits and lecterns. And I like to think that Zach learned more about the “Builders/Traditionalists” than he knew before our sessions together.