That's All, Folks!

You know that moment at the end of a Looney Tunes Cartoon when Porky the Pig sticks his head out of a circle and shouts "That's all, folks!" Or when the lion sticks his head out and roars? That moment when you're sitting there watching the credits at the end of the movie, hoping there's a tag at the end, waiting to see if the story continues? That's exactly how I felt the week after graduation. I felt as if someone should have stood up at the end of commencement, the credits of my college career, and said "Well, that's all she wrote, folks. Let's have a moment of silence as we mourn the ending of 1,500 lives." It took my some time to realize that life is not about who you are in college, what horribly awful clothes you sometimes wear, or even those moments when you sit up in bed like it's on fire, race out of your house, and barely make it to your final on time because your alarm clock somehow did NOT go off even though you know that you set it. There is something surreal when someone asks you "So what school do you attend?" and you respond "I don't. I'm done with school and don't have to go back unless I feel like it." There is a moment when you realize that you traded in your school i.d. for a big kid i.d. and wonder who forgot to tell your school that you're just not old enough to be ... well, old. And then you wonder "Well, who am I? And where do I belong?"

If you are at that place in life where you're wondering where you belong, let me fill you in on a little secret: you're not from this world and you don't belong here. WHAT?! That's right, you're an alien. But get this, so am I! And so is that kid sitting next to you at Alpha on Thursday night who you haven't met because he's just not "cool enough." You belong right here, in the place with other Christians who love Jesus and are praying to see His Kingdom come. Want some proof? " The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you." John 15:19. Jesus has called us, as His followers, to follow different standards instead of living by the ones that the rest of the world follows. We do not have to walk in the trappings of sin and death like those who are lost. Yes, there are things that we can struggle with, but He has given us freedom to overcome them! But the world does not understand this freedom. They see it as bondage to not be caught up in their sin. They do not see us as having freedom so they ensure that we are outcast and downtrodden.

You know how that recent college grad seems to have the world at their fingertips and everything ahead of them? I know from experience that being that graduate can be a very insecure place to be. Just because they're cool doesn't automatically mean that they're incredibly secure. The same goes for the really awesome girl or guy at church. And to you (and me!) the one at church who actually has figured out some of what it means to belong, you haven't arrived just because you're in a season where you are secure in who God made you to be. Look around at all those who are lost and insecure without a solid sense of belonging. Do you know who can help make them feel as if they have a place? You! Don't forget that you were there once, too. And chances are, you'll be there again one day. So be that friend whom you needed and will one day need again. Show others that they belong and are welcome in your group, I promise it will pay off. You see that girl who looks really shy and it's painfully difficult to get one word out of? Go talk to her. Chances are she's keeping an awesome personality behind that barrier and once you break through, she'll be one of the best friends you will have. Oh and that guy who calls you to hang out all the time and won't leave you alone? The one who insists on breaking into your circle of friends? How about giving him a chance, because it's very likely that he will be a faithful friend as well. And probably a pretty awesome friend, at that.

I want to challenge you all to invite one friend to hang out with you this week who you normally wouldn't hang out with, and then let us know how it went. Or at least let your Grow Group leader know if it would embarrass the person if you posted it on here. I promise your Grow Group leader will be proud of you! If you are struggling with loneliness, still invite someone to hang out with you. I guarantee you won't be lonely with someone else around!

Congrats to all of our High School and College graduates!! You guys make a great looking group! And this isn't even all of them! The Alpha Net is so proud of all of you!