6. Being around all these young people makes me feel really old

6.  Being around all these young people makes me feel really old

Yesterday my oldest nephew turned 12!  Not only that, but he started high school last week!  He is crazy old!  How did that happen?!?!?!

So I feel old.  I mean, I like to think that I’m not, but when the people you spend most of your time with are in their late teens and early 20s, you start to re-evaluate things.  I feel like this is most obvious in the CU.  I am the oldest member, by quite some distance.  Not only am I older than all of the other students, but I’m older than the staff worker too.  In fact, I’m so old that, when I try to sign up for CU events, I have to lie about my age, otherwise they won’t let me go!  Basically UCCF - the organisation that runs CUs across the world - can’t imagine anyone over 30 attending any of their events.  This does have the surprising advantage that, as far as the UCCF are concerned, I am 29, have been 29 for the last year, and will be 29 for the next 3 years.  Personally I count that as a win!  (In fairness, I have contacted them to let them know so I may have to revert to my actual age for the next UCCF event I attend…. that’s makes me sad!)  

On several occasions, during Monday night Equip sessions, guest speakers made references to events in the past which “of course you’re all too young to remember,”… Every time this happened heads turned immediately to me to determine whether I’m old enough to remember what was being spoken about.  I wouldn’t mind so much, but the last time it was an event in the 60s!  I’m not THAT old!  With that said, I’m usually old enough to remember what’s being talked about - which is a source of great hilarity to many… well, Nathan…  

One of the things that is amazing about the CU is the energy that the members have for evangelism.  The mission statement of the CU is that “everyone on campus would have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel.”  What an amazing vision!  To dream that everyone on Aberdeen University campus would have the chance to respond to Jesus.  Personally, I find that vision energising in of itself.  But to be alongside young people who are passionate for that vision to become a reality is really amazing.  To have the opportunity to partner with them in the task that they undertake, to join with them in driving towards this goal, is such an encouragement to me.  The courage that they show in approaching fellow students and starting conversations about Jesus is both amazing and deeply challenging to me.  To unashamedly stand before man and to witness to Christ is an amazing testimony.  It has been a great privilege for me to partner with them this year, and I look forward to second year and the opportunities that this will bring to witness for the Lord.

Then there’s church.  Gerrard Street Baptist have a student evening event on Sunday evenings called GS@6.30 (don’t get Grant started on why it’s called that!)  You’ve probably guessed by now where this story is going….. yes, I’m not only the oldest who attends that meeting regularly, but I’m also older than the church’s students & youth worker!  It makes me feel old!  

The great news is that the church itself is about as mixed a congregation as you could hope for.  The congregation contains members of various ages and stages in their walks with Christ.  There is also a wide variety of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds represented within the church.    I have found that one of the great blessings in my life is being a young man in a church with older people.  I love having had the opportunity to watch as older men and women walk through life as Christians.  I have had the dubious pleasure of watching older people walking through seasons of great joy and seasons of great sorrow.  I have watched older Christians walk with the Lord and die in the Lord.  One of the most formative things for me as a young Christian has been having this opportunity to watch and learn from older Christians as they walk with the Lord.  I love the Getty hymn “O Church Arise”, particularly for the lines in the final verse “As saints of old still line the way, retelling triumphs of His grace.”  Having that opportunity to learn from those who have trod the path I seek to tread has been invaluable to me.  In some ways it is my prayer that I can serve those younger than me in a similar way.  That, as they walk, they would be able to look to my example - poor as it is - and be encouraged (or see how it’s not to be done!)

This is my last reflection on 1st year.  I do hope you've enjoyed reading my thoughts.  I'm not entirely sure what I'll blog about now, but I'm sure I'll find something!

Ps.  I wrote this on the day before my 32nd birthday.  Don’t anyone tell UCCF, they still think I’m 29!