Calling in the Context of Collapse

Intro – Book Recap

Lauren shares a birthday with her father (she is 15 (Gen Alpha) and he is 40 (Millennial))

Lauren’s dream - flying towards a door but can’t get through and the walls begin burning

Conversation with Cori about how the stars are visible because of the lack of light

Trip to the church has them riding past so many desperate people w/ her hyperempathy

She and her brother are going through the motions of baptism to make her father happy

Practices to root in:

1.Ground in gratitude    

2. Practice gentleness.

3. Give your worries to God

4. Focus on the true, honorable, just, and excellent things. 

The Key Themes

1. God is calling even in the midst of chaos

2. Church can get in the way of Jesus

3. Building Kin(g)dom

4. Those on the Margins shall Lead

If God is Always Calling Why Do We Ignore the Call (Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11):

-We want physical and mental comfort [Lauren’s Dad – even in the baptism]

-We want someone else to rescue us [Cori – aspiring for the old ways]

-We want wordly power and security [Keith trying to get to L.A.]

We are often looking backwards so we walk backwards, stand still or walk forward without seeing the pitfalls in front of us.

Lauren has traits that make her more willing to answer the call. They all can be cultivated:

-Prophetic discontent (We can do better)

-Vision w/out nostalgia (Imagination for what could be w/out longing for what has been)

-Hyperempathy (Getting closer to the pain can motivate toward action) 

So many parallels to the present. We agree on the need for change, but some want to go back to the good old days, some are frozen and some are walking but looking backwards. Can we hear God calling – not to something that was, but toward a new way. Will we answer the call?

Reflection Questions:

1. In Jesus’ temptation we are warned about the pitfalls of craving physical comfort, wanting to be rescued and the desire for worldly power and security. Which of these temptations is most distracting you from walking towards God’s call?

2. The book is full of folks longing for the “good old days.” Are there places where longing has you walking backwards, being frozen or missing the pitfalls in front of you? How can you draw on lessons from better times without looking backwards?

3. Looking at pain in your life, can you see places where it has been an invitation to move towards God’s transformative vision? How can you continue your healing process while not trying to insulate yourself from the real challenges in the world?