RA Training

I'm unable to tell any specifics of what happened during our off campus training period (Res life requested that we keep what happened a secret, in order that future RA's in the process won't build up any expectations), but fortunately I'm able to write about what I learned. Off campus training was incredible. I wasn't exactly looking forward to off campus training primarily because my summer was packed and I really needed some rest and solitude to process my experiences. It turned out that my time in off campus training was exactly what I needed. I was able to really process through not only my summer, but also my life. There have been some reoccurring themes that I've been aware of recently in my life. I specifically believe that God has been teaching me the significance of holistic leadership and living.
The leaders of Resident Life and the Resident Directors are some of the deepest characters, some of the greatest leaders, and some of the funniest people I now know. I'm not usually a huge fan of training in the classroom, but this past week of training has been very beneficial and I've found that I've really adopted the vision of Res Life, which I've been amazed over. Imparting vision from the top down, bringing people to the point where they grasp the vision in their hearts is never easy, its always a process. And I think the entire RA team realizes that being an RA isn't just about planning, staff meetings, and a class, but its about growing deeper in character as a person. I am blessed to be working under our new RD, and am excited for this next year and what God has in store for the entire Res Life team and Biola as a whole.
Up until this past summer, I was aware of a huge disconnect between the reality of what God's Kingdom should look like individually and communally, and what it actually appears to be, at least in America. My involvement in Sri Lanka and under the leadership of the Biola Res Life team has blessed me immensely with a glimpse of what authentic living and loving ones neighbor looks like. I am now convinced that leadership cannot be learned in a classroom. And I think that idea actually reflects a deeper principle. The principle that the human mind grasps truth better when transformation is witnessed on a practical, sociable level as opposed to pure book knowledge. Much of my time thinking as of late has been entirely devoted to what it means to live out the Word of God as a means of teaching the Scriptures as opposed to merely learning God's Word on paper. My thoughts on living out the Word of God then brought me to question the definition, meaning, or purpose of a word. A word in and of itself belongs to a set language and is seemingly arbitrary. Words represent ideas and principles that fit under the category of Logos, or reason. An idea can be as simple as words on a page, or it can be as complex as a play, which includes words and actions to convey the authors message.
Some of the most powerful ideas and messages I've come across, however, have not used words to convey themselves, but actions. The action both includes and transcends words. The Samaritan who crosses the road for the man who is beaten and left for dead is a story with words conveying a message. Stories move people because the intellect is grasped through the door of emotion.
The purpose of life is first to glorify God. In our glorifying of God and reflecting upon His heart, we delve deeper into who we are as people. In our acknowledgment and faith in God as the only One who can adequately affirm us, we discover a place of complete security. Out of that security, we are able to press on as Disciples of Christ, disregarding and truly reflecting the words and lifestyle of Paul who counted all things as rubbish in comparison to Christ Jesus. When we are secure in Christ, we are no longer preoccupied with fears or praises springing from false affirmations. Some people are haunted with those fears, and others are haunted with a fear of who they could be, of their incredible potential of impact. With a deep rooted security and affirmation set in Christ, people are able to love their neighbors freely without having to worry about performing or building up some kind of reputation. The things that burden us, that tear us down, that break us are all things that have taken root in insecurity. Many people, Christian or not, are weighed down with guild from past sins or the idea that because of their past sins, redemption seems foggy and the potential of an incredible life of impact seems mostly gone. In Christ, all of that is redeemed. There is new life.
These are the ideas and the perspective I long to truly adopt and grasp not only with my mind, but also with my heart. My prayer is that in my relationships this coming year, I would find my affirmation not in performance, failures, or the ways people think of me, but in God. With a floor full of new students, the importance of security and footing in Christ cannot be overstated. There is ample opportunity for growth and development, but insecurity in leadership creates insecure people. My prayer is that I would lead with authenticity. That I would lead out of the fullness of my own being rooted in a sense of deep belonging to the family of God and acknowledgment that I am loved fully by God. Out of my time with God, I want my love to be proactive. I want people to feel safe when they converse with me, that I listen attentively and know how to love like the Father has loved us. I pray that God would teach me to how to help people reach the point in their minds where they grasp concepts with their own hearts and minds.