Power pays, but Love wins.
Whose team are we on?
My nephew, who is 10, asked me about the true purpose of school and higher education. He wanted to know: Is it for being trained or listening?
Both; we are all being trained by what we listen to. So be careful how you hear.
The insight of his question punctures the modern veil of conformity disguised as learning how to perform. It’s training to fit into systems that succeed because the allure of status allows people to be removed from the bottom line; the profit precedent wipes away individuality and all its potential. The process of becoming unfolds for those who are listening to understand, to probe deeper, to see beyond, to realize not how to make yourself fit but how to give what you have for the common good. Listeners are dangerous to the system.
The school of status trains us to work for show. The school of the Spirit empowers us to work with all our heart. In any classroom, the challenge is not to change the world’s culture of lowest common denominators but to equip learners who rise up and show up distinctly and differently. Capitalistic culture tells us power pays. Jesus says, “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Who are we listening to?
Are we willing to take Jesus at His word and let our lives be the evidence of what is possible when faith is put into practice?
Changing the world – changing the culture – happens one person at a time, when we are trained by listening to the Voice of gentleness and humility. Those hearts at work would be a beautiful world.
