TGSTI - Chapter 2

"Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again.  So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland." Ruth 1:6

Yesterday was Rally Day at church.  A day to kick-off the new Sunday School year, to celebrate the mission trip of the Youth over the summer and enjoy a church picnic on the front lawn.  A day to rally God's people after a "time apart" (aka summer break).  It's a day of making connections and reflecting on the work of our church with each other.

During this time, I had the opportunity to talk with a few people about the youth.  We are fortunate to have an active youth group and Sunday school.  However, we still see the decline of young people's participation from the time they are confirmed until they have children of their own; and wondered and guessed as to why this happens.  Those high school, college, and early adult years seem to be a normal 'time apart' in our personal faith cycle.  I know I am certainly guilty of it.  And 2 of my children are in that time (high school & college) and don't always make it to Sunday services, even when the rest of us are going.  There are as many reasons why this happens as there are people; but it doesn't mean they (we) have turned out backs on God.

When I read chapter 2 of The Girl's Still Got It, where Liz talks about our opening verse (above) I was reminded of the natural faith cycle of regular attendance and regular absence.  I'm not saying it's something we should do (take time away from the church), but it seems to be something we do, as humans.  Naomi left for 10+ years, the prodigal son left for a time, and our young people often find themselves attending in an off-and-on fashion from about age 15-25 (NOT a statistic, this is from my own personal experience).  And certainly not everyone!  There are active faith organizations in every high school & on every college campus.  There are dynamic, energizing ministries that are made up of mostly that age group.  So, this is not a blanket statement, but one I think many churches notice.

My point is: Naomi was in a foreign land, but she did not abandon her faith.  She kept her eyes on the Lord.  She kept her ear tuned to news from her homeland.  Why?  Hope.  She knew, even in her difficulties and whining, that the Lord would not abandon her.  It wasn't easy and she was not the most graceful throughout the situation, but she was brave and eager to rejoin her people and return to God, physically, to dwell in the land he had given her people.  (For me, "Judah" represents my church.)

I think it's that way with the 'least represented' age group.  It may be that this is a natural cycle of exploring, testing, and asserting one's faith in a different direction.   It's not that they (we - because this can occur at any age!) turn our backs on God, or our faith, but something else pulls us in a different direction.  The world, in Naomi's case starvation, has a more immediate priority for a time.  But that doesn't mean that we completely lose faith.  Even if we are like the prodigal son and live it up for a while, we know that God will not abandon us.

If we keep a listening ear tuned to the heart of God, we will always return to Him.  And He will always receive us "Filled with love and compassion..." Luke 15:20a.  

There is tons of great stuff in chapter 2!  If you haven't already read it, read it today.  Take the rest of the week to answer the questions in the study guide.  Jot down your answers and any other insights you have as you read.  Liz is great at explaining what's 'lost in translation' and really brings these verses to life!  How does it translate into your life?  What parallels to do you see?  How is it informing your faith journey?

I am eager to know how you are doing with this!  If you are reading this in your e-mail click here to post in the Comment section.  Let's start a conversation!

Your Partner in Ministry,

Shelly
warrior

"Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs 16:24