I picked up my pen and glanced at the overhead. There were some strange pictures my professor placed in the powerpoint that didn't really make sense to me; maybe because I wasn't paying much attention anyway. It was some kind of propaganda for the rights of a people group I've never really heard of that went along with the lesson plan.
This was one of the pictures shown. I was so confused... we were learning about "the Banana Massacre," but I was completely tuned out when we were so I really didn't know what it was about or why it was controversial (to be honest I still don't...).
After explaining the "contradictory" pictures (which I still didn't understand), professor turned to us and posed the question: "Do any of you have any thoughts on the matter?"
I heard a pin drop in the echoing silence of everyone not caring (or not understanding... like me).
Her expression evolved into one of disappointment as she shook her head. "I can't believe it. None of you have anything to say?"
Silence.
"Do you understand," she started, as she crossed her arms and gawked at us in amazement, "that there are people who died, so you could freely speak your mind. People died so you could openly voice your opinion, so you could freely express what you're thinking." She threw her head and hands up as if she were motioning to God asking Him why He allowed our generation to get this way.
And after she gave a mini-lecture on how the technology of this era is frying our brains to numbness of individual and unique thought processes, she boldly asked a question but secretly mapped a challenge in front of us.
"What are you going to do with your freedom that they died for you to have?"
~~~
That question stuck with me, and I actually ended up writing it down in my notes. We have so much amazing freedom that people have struggled beyond our understanding to have. People have endured hell on earth so I could freely use God-given words to express how I feel about our government, about our generation, about the world; and not be afraid of anyone coming after me for any opinions I have.
And somewhere between driving home letting my worship-mix cd narrate my thoughts in my car and hearing and taking in what my pastor was teaching on, I realized something I should have realized this past Easter Sunday- actually, I should have realized it a very long time before that.
Jesus died so I could be free from my sins. Jesus died so that I don't have to worry about the weight of my own mistakes, the weight of guilt, and the weight that human brokenness places on my shoulders and heart. Jesus died because he loves me. Jesus died because He loves you.
He died for me. And what have I done with it? Jesus has graced me with freedom and confidence to live in love. What am I going to do with this information, this invitation, this grace, this opportunity? Love should compel people to action. If God is love, and we take time to think and meditate on what He has done for us everyday; what are we going to do? God has given us His own power through His son. We have the power to call on His name, to present our requests to Him, to cast away evil and fear. What are we going to do with what Jesus has died for us over and with what God has empowered us with and called us to?
If we are all students, and Jesus is our teacher; I don't want to just hear what He says and become distracted with doodling pictures of things other than Him, watching the clock tick in anticipation for Heaven; and then looking back up at His teachings and not understand or care. Jesus gives us a classroom to learn about Him and His love. I want to be the best student I can be.
But the best part of all is, Jesus calls us more than students. He calls us friends. He calls us His children.
John 15:15b "Instead, I (Jesus) have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
