Live Greater Nothing left…

Dec 3, 2007

It was in this place that many suffered and died. They had everything taken away and were left to work until they could not work anymore. Families were separated, heads were shaved, the food was scarce, 10 to a bunk, they had nothing left and little hope to go on. How could the human spirit survive? Those in charge did their best to take that spirit away, but some prisoners did survive this horrible place or at least died so others could. What was it? What inspired those who survived to keep going? Whatever it was, we sure need it. For the sake of your people Lord, we need what they had.

What was it? This question haunted me as I boarded trains and walked the streets of Polska (Poland). The above reflection was a passage from my journal the day I went to Auschwitz Concentration Camp.  Words could not explain the emotions I felt walking around and trying to put myself in that time and place.

Since my trip, I have been inspired to read accounts and stories of those who survived those horrible camps or died so others could. Upon my study, I cannot get past the question: What was it about those certain individuals? Maybe more importantly, what does it have to do with me and you?

It comes down to a few things. There were certain individuals who never let their sense of identity be taken away, even though they were stripped of everything and experienced the most horrific conditions. They never lost site of the very heart and soul of who they were and realized they had something to offer. In all the circumstances that I read, what the heroes offered is what kept the others alive around them. Some offered hope and love. Others offered courage and zeal to survive. And others even volunteered their own lives so those around them could live.

Identity & Purpose… That is what it was. They knew themselves and they knew they had something to offer the world. And so they did - and they are heroes for it.

For us perhaps it is no different. Praise the Lord we do not find ourselves in a concentration camp at this moment in time. But it could be said that we are in a different but similar battle. There are powers out there that are winning in the attempt to define us, forcing us to follow their lead, and live according to “their way.” They train us with their propaganda and lure us in with attractive offers of popularity and worth. They control us and take away our sense of identity and purpose. The parallels are obvious.

We have a choice to make just like those who found themselves in the prison camps of Nazi Germany. We must hold true to our identity and be reminded of our purpose.

Our identity? We are sons and daughters of God.  He loves us unconditionally and longs to have an intimate and personal relationship with us. (Ring a bell from the last few weeks?!)

This week we consider our purpose. It is interesting to realize why so many young people struggle today.  Upon my own personal reflection, I believe that at the heart of a young person’s struggle is a tough realization… So many young people feel like they have nothing to offer to world. In that void of feeling worthless, we fill it with many others things- drugs, alcohol, sexual promiscuity, Hollywood, and so much more. Team MTV not only has help to put us there, but they hold us there. We are empty and trapped, while the culture continues to fill us with a false reality of life and imitation of happiness.

It might not come as a surprise but our alternative purpose is found in Christ. (Anyone see a pattern?)  In knowing ourselves and responding to God’s gift of love and relationship, our purpose is found in revealing Him to the world. Whether we find ourselves in a starvation bunker, class, practice, or at work, our purpose is to reveal in the very depths of our heart and soul, the God who made us. And that God, as in all of human history, will act in us and things will start to change. In the moment we respond, not only will we change things for the better, but we will give others around us permission to respond heroically as well.

For the record - what you have to offer…matters. It matters to me, God and the Church. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that what you have to offer the world doesn’t matter.

What was it about them? Whatever it was, we sure need it. For the sake of your people Lord, we need what they had.

They knew who they were and they offered it to the world.

Pray that we can do the same. 

God Bless You.

In Him and His Holy Mother,

Rusty

Question of the week: What do you have to offer the world? (*Look into your heart and soul…what did God put in you to reveal to the world?)

Next Week: Welcome to Basic Training…

Rusty is a Seminarian at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Nebraska and is the co-founder of Live Greater Ministries. The Ministry's aim is to invite the youth of the Church into a dialogue about the present culture and how Jesus invites us to a relationship with him, finding true happiness and greater purpose.  More information can be found on their website at www.livegreater.net.