TRENDS:
a how-to guide
Our resident millennial, Teagan Dwyer-Riviere, rewrites
the rule book, flipping trends on their head and
considering how they might actually be used for good.
how to #yolo
Be intentional
Be self-aware You only live once - strangely profound words for a
hashtag. We could take the view that this is a call to
jump out of a plane and throw wild parties every second
weekend. However, I’m not convinced. I like to think
that the truth of #YOLO might act as a motivator to be
intentional about the short time we have. Rather than
always looking for the next fleeting experience, could we
instead think about how our time and focus can be best
used for God in His big-picture?
Being aware of your best angle might not help you
make a friend, however, being self-aware really can.
Why do you think the way you do about politics, the
9-5 work day and Taylor Swift? Understanding how our
own perspectives and worldviews are entrenched in our
culture and upbringing can go a long way in helping us
engage with people cross-culturally. Being intentional about building meaningful friendships,
developing substance over style and going deep in our
relationship with God may just take us on adventures
that are truly worthy of the YOLO hashtag. If we consider
every moment to be a gift from God, then let’s use our
time in a way that honours Him. Who knows where it
might take us?
It’s comfortable to have a set idea about the way, for
instance, a particular meal should be cooked (how
grandma makes it, obviously) but, what about when
we go to the other side of the world, or street, and
a potential friend prepares the same meal how their
grandmother would? It’s a trivial example, but being
aware of how our own worldview has been shaped
allows us to be more open to learn from another
person’s perspective. This is vital in forming friendships
and sharing the Gospel in culturally relevant ways. how to get followers
how to
take a selfie
resonate · issue 30 · page 9
Be outward focussed
If you get teary (or maybe a little agro) when you’re
unfriended on Facebook, it may be time to put the phone
down and consider a broader perspective. As a disciple
of Jesus, it is our job to encourage people to become
followers of Him, not of us. Jesus told fishermen, Simon
and Andrew, ‘Come follow me… and I will send you out to
fish for people.’ Jesus’ call to them, and us, is to follow Him
and invite others to follow Him also. Sounds easy, right?!
Well no, but we don’t have to do it alone. God’s Spirit is
in us, building up our faith, guiding us and speaking
to and through us. And it’s all about relationship.
Within the context of mutual trust and genuine
care, there can be natural openings to explore
faith and invite others to meet Jesus.