Here's an article I recently wrote for our school paper here at CU...
Let me make a confession as I
start this article. I am a cause guy. I am easily drawn into trying to meet the
needs of others, into trying to make the world better, into helping to bring
God’s Kingdom in all its fullness to His creation. The first real cause I
jumped on board with was the global HIV/AIDS pandemic over a decade ago and
that led me on a journey engaging several others like education, microfinance,
poverty, food security, clean water, and the current cause I’ve been chasing for
the last few years is the reduction of cases of malaria through the
distribution of bed nets. To be honest, I never dreamed I’d care so deeply
about so many injustices in our world.
I’d love to ask every student on
our campus about what particular cause or issue they are passionate about
today! Here are a few reasons why I think everyone should have something that
draws out our passion and a piece of our heart as we live our lives:
1. We are wired, we are made, and we are called
to be engaged in helping bring change to other’s lives and our world. God has
given us that remarkable privilege and opportunity as His ambassadors and hands
and feet as we encounter the things that break His heart on this planet…
2. You meet some great friends who share the
same beliefs and values when you join others in trying to make the world a
better place. The first group of students that pulled me into caring about AIDS
became a community that is one of my favorite groups of all time…
3. You end up learning a ton when you
seriously tackle a major problem in our world. I’ve become so much more aware
of things truly happening in our world and in people’s lives because I’ve tried
to figure out the best way from really bright people how to help be part of
changing people’s situations.
4. You find joy and purpose that we all long
for in our lives. You and I were made for so much more than just a “normal”
life where our goals include only comfort and security and having everything we
want in material possessions. Opening a schoolhouse, drilling for clean water,
and handing a family a bed net are memories and moments I know I will never,
ever forget.
5. You are part of a team, part of something
that leaves a legacy of transformation.
Causes require collaboration, and the pooled resources of a group of
people do more together than they ever could just being used by individuals.
6. You don’t fixate on your own issues and
needs in an unhealthy way. The battle against narcissism is a challenging one
in our culture, and one of the best ways to slay the demon of selfishness is to
give deeply of the best of you for something or someone else.
Keep your eyes and your heart
open as you read and listen and watch; and when something grabs your interest,
please decide to learn all you can. And then actually throw your time, your
money, your words, and most of all your gifts and strengths into doing
something to literally change lives and our world.
We’ve raised the resources
to provide about 10,000 bed nets so far through our Night of Nets campaign at
CU, and frankly, I really hope we double that number just in 2014. It’s
something that gets me up in the morning as a follower of Jesus! Be unashamed
in your advocacy and your campaign for that thing that causes major holy
discontent for you personally. You’ll watch yourself be changed into something
far more than you have experienced before…
Chip Huber is the Dean of Student Engagement
and Founder of NIGHT of NETS
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