A life defined by a message
11:45 Thursday 24 November 2011
I’ve just got back from spending just over 2 months in Cape Town, South Africa. What a beautiful country and what wonderful people! I loved it!
Whilst I was there I was really blessed to be able to go to a ceremony in which one of the young people I know, Simon, was graduating from secondary school - out in SA it’s a big deal, a special moment.
So, I was there as Simon was sat up on stage with the rest of his year group. All sorts of prizes were given and speeches made. Then came the moment where each student would sign their name in the school’s record book. As they were called forward one by one, 2 girls from among them stood at the microphone and read the names of the student and then told us all what their nickname was or a phrase that would define what they would be remembered for.
As the names and phrases were read out, some were funny, others were very clever - some if i’m honest i didn’t understand at all! And then the moment came for my friend Simon to come and sign his name in the book - what would they remember him for I wondered? Then they announced it:
“Jesus loves you”
A big cheer went up from the stage. My friend Simon would be remembered for a phrase he lived and breathed in that school: Jesus loves you. He was beaming. I was loving it!
I wonder in you school, college, university, workplace, home, town, city, what message will you be remembered for living and breathing? What message defines the way you live?
I know one thing - we need young leaders in the UK ready to carry that message with everything they are. Our nation needs to hear it now more than ever. Jesus loves you.