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| The joy of Leah Gilbert is well depicted in this photo. |
My name is Leah
Gilbert, I moved to Virginia Beach one month ago to intern in Youth Ministry,
and I really love the Lord and his most marvelously adorable creation,
penguins. That’s pretty much all you need to know for now.
Usually when I blog I
tend to write more lengthy “essay-esque” entries. They typically begin with a
story of a recent event that leads to some kind of revelation and finish with
my ever-so-deep conclusion about
living a life following Jesus. Well, not this time. You’re probably busy, and
let’s be real—you ain’t got time for that.
To be honest, I asked
the Lord what I could write that could potentially bring some spiritual
refreshment to you leaders. So, I have a numbered list of advice inspired by
things I’ve learned and am still learning in ministry. Now, before you read it,
let me be clear: anything that is wise about this list is from the Lord, not
me. Seriously. And because I just can’t resist, I will add a small story to
prove my point:
I recently got a job
(in addition to my internship) because I was so lost trying to find my way
around a new city that I accidentally drove through the wrong parking lot and
stumbled upon a “Now Hiring” sign. If that doesn’t prove it I don’t know what
else will.
Anyway…
- Identify yourself as a son or daughter of God before anything else. This comes before your position on Impact, before your schoolwork, and anything else. It’s true that you are a student, a mentor, a ministry coordinator, a Peer Mentor, an RA, etc. It’s truer that you are a child of the Living God who never abandons the apple of his eye. If there’s anything I’ve learned in ministry, it’s that what you do comes out of who you know you are. Before anything else came to be you were loved by him, and after everything you’ve ever accomplished or failed trying you will be loved by him all the same. That kind of Kingdom-thinking has lifted many burdens off of my shoulders.
- Lean into the process. You guys can thank Stu Erny for this little nugget of heavenly wisdom. Because guess what—the process of growing and learning isn’t completed after you graduate college (you read my story above, right? Case in point). You are in the process of becoming more and more like Jesus every day. This job you’re doing is just part of that process. You don’t have to do it perfectly. You are allowed to make mistakes. However, leaning into the process doesn’t mean going about your responsibilities willy-nilly. Allow yourself mistakes because that’s how you learn the importance of grace and discipline, not laziness.
- Embrace AU community while you are still in it. Okay, that one sounded really ominous. Let me expand on that before you skip this point altogether. Throughout all of my years at AU I was told, “You’ll NEVER have community like this again, so enjoy it while you can.” Let me be clear that I don’t believe that for one second. It is not true that you’ll never be in such an amazing community again. Believing that lie will do yourself a great injustice once you leave college because you’ll have lost all hope of ever having true community. What I have found to be true is that I am thankful I pressed in to AU’s community while I had the chance, because once I left, I knew that kind of community was important enough to me that I wanted to work to place myself in it again. It is true that that same kind of community won’t be as easily accessible, but it’s not impossible. Your best friends might not live across the hall from you after college, but that does not mean you’re limited from ever sharing life with others again. Learn what that community looks like by embracing it now, and then create it again when you leave college. We need each other like the body needs all of its parts to fully function (okay maybe not the appendix but whatever).
- And last but
certainly not least: Go to Christmas at
the zoo and see the adorable penguins. Seriously, it’ll make you smile and
you can thank me later. Go by yourself, with your floor, or on a roommate date.
I don’t care. Just go. (Attention RAs: if you organize a roommate date event,
don’t pretend like it’s a set-up for marriage. I had some really awkward
moments during freshman year thanks to some “romantic” stories about spouses
meeting on roommate dates.)
Leah and her adorable nephew, Landon.
Sorry, that was
probably longer than you thought it’d be. I’ll know who got to the end based on
who messages me about the penguins at Christmas time ;)
Blessings,
Leah
Gilbert
Peer
Mentor 2011-2012
Prayer
Ministry Coordinator 2012-2014
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