Where and how does one wrap up a conversation as emotional and heavy (as one friend described) as this series has been? Well, I am not sure if I know. So, I am not ending it. I am just pausing it here. If you are a part of the Crash or greater North Phoenix community, this is not the last time you will hear me talk about this. And I hope this is not the last time you talk about this with me. An issue this large is not solved in a blog series. But I hope this starts to scratch the surface for you and me. And I hope you send the link to this series to others in the future and invite them into the dialogue (both here and in other places). This is not the end; it’s just the end of the beginning…and it is time for us to move somewhere new.

I hope that I have not let anyone off the hook in this conversation. I hope I have not left those who continue to generalize and poke fingers off the hook. It’s time to end the rancor and grandstanding. It’s time to start having a real conversation, as friends, as members of one body, as fellow followers of Jesus.

I hope that I have not let the younger generation off the hook. God has entrusted us with responsibility and God is preparing us for the future, whether we are aware of that or not. We already do have places and opportunities to influence change, if we will seize them. Our frustration and disappointment cannot allow us to check out and miss the payoff for the preparation. We have been hurt, abandoned and disappointed. But we cannot stay there forever. We must continue to humble ourselves before God, seek wisdom and commit to be the kind of change we want to see in others (that authenticity, vulnerability, humility and trust I keep talking about).

I hope that I have not let the older generation off the hook. God has entrusted you with the responsibility to mentor us, whether that frustrates you, confuses you, or terrifies you. You have wisdom and experience that we desperately need. And as much as we push back, run away, act confused, and waffle back and forth, we need you. Even when we say we don’t. Do not abandon us. I repeat, DO NOT ABANDON US. We do not simply need your presence next to us in worship services or superficial hallway conversations. We need real dialogue, real relationship. Over meals and over coffee. We need real give and take, reciprocal mentoring. We may disagree on preaching, music, sunday morning attire, and a whole host of other preferential debates. But we cannot engage the church’s mission separately. We need each other, if we are going to accomplish God’s purpose for us. And the other thing…you need us too. It may scare you and bewilder you and make you want to push away. But we are your lifeblood. We are your second wind. We are your legacy. The numbers and achievements that you have trophies and awards for…those won’t last…but we will…and those we invest in and influence will last too. So sow your life into us and make a difference even beyond your death. Reap a harvest that borders on immortality. Look us in the face. Believe it. We are your legacy. (How bout them apples?!?!)

(Sorry just had to lighten the mood a little)

And finally, I hope I haven’t let myself off the hook. Because after all, in my experience, this whole thing began with me finally taking a good long hard look at me. And realizing, I was not nearly as teachable and open as I thought I was. Instead, I had become cynical, bitingly sarcastic, bitter, and angry. I felt rejected, abandoned, and alone. I pointed out every fault and noticed every wrong in others. And I cared more about being right than being apart of the change. I lived more out of fear than I did out of hope. Since December 2008, God has been saying, “Are you done yet? Because I am ready to do something if you are open to another perspective, open to going somewhere else.”

To borrow a Biblical example, Numbers 13 and 14 present our crossroads. We can either be the people of Israel and see all things that stand in our way in taking the Promised Land. The “giants” of the land, if you will. We can respond and twist the fear knob that is present in front of all of us. Or we can respond with hope. Not the kind that looks away and diverts our eyes from the true situation. No, the kind of hope that led Joshua and Caleb to say, “Giants – check. Fortified cities – check. Advanced weapons – check. Established and rooted – check.” But don’t forget, “10 plagues – check. Parting of the Red Sea – check. Provision in wilderness – check. Promise to our father Abraham – check.”

From this point on, it is all in our response. Its a simplified option – but we can either respond in fear, continue to criticize and moan, or we can respond in hope, and ask God to bring change through us. I guarantee the first option is safer and will give you more control. But eventually, you will get bored and realized you missed your moment to be a part of something bigger than you.

Me? I am twisting that hope knob wide open. I want to be a Joshua, to lead a Joshua generation. I want God and Moses to say, “Yep, he is ready. It’s his time.”

-Savage