Navs
I was talking to a good friend the other day about the level of involvement with student groups that different people have. Since my freshmen year I have been involved with the Navigators. I was super involved my sophomore year and took a break my junior year to pursue other avenues of leadership and this year I've pretty limited myself to leading Bible Study on Tuesday nights. My friend has also been involved since his freshmen year and continues to be heavily involved with all aspects of the club. We were talking the other day and he shared with me his frustrations with people, mainly upperclassmen, who no longer go to Navs or "greet people" when they come to Navs. He thought it was very selfish of these people to only go to or be involved in something when they were benefiting from the organization, but once the people felt that they had no more benefits, they stopped being involved. I can understand where he is coming from, but I am also torn.
The premise for his argument is that, Navs isn't always going to fill you up but that there's a duty or obligation that overrides personal benefit. I partly agree with that. There are many things in life that we often do not feel like doing (like reading the Bible, prayer, etc) but have been called to obedience to do because in the long run, these things will better us and our relationship with God. However, I also have several big disagreements with my friend's argument.
Another premise for his argument is that the people in Navs and the Navigator organization should be growing together. I do not necessarily agree with that outlook. Navigators is an organization that is meant to serve the college population; it provides discipleship opportunities and fellowship for those looking to get connected and belong to the body of Christ. However, people grow out of college and move onto different things. Navs cannot grow out of college. What this means is that Navs will teach and reach a very specific genre of people. Navs will grow them and (hopefully) aid them in developing a deeper relationship with Jesus. But once growth occurs, the Nav model may no longer fit where the person is spiritually. It's not Nav's fault, and it's not the person's fault. But then the question becomes, do you continue to play in a pool that you have grown out of?
I have struggled with this question a lot in the past. Part of me does feel this sense of duty to an organization that has invested in me, but another part of me wants to take what I have received and invest it in other areas that I feel led to. However, we are only one person with a finite amount of time. Last year I chose to get involved with high school ministry which meant that Navs had to take a backseat. Do I feel bad? A little. But I would have felt worse if I had continued with my leadership involvement in Navs knowing that my heart was not there and that I could have invested both my heart and time in something that really mattered to me and God's kingdom.
Obviously, some people have to be in the pool, but I feel hypocritical telling someone to stay somewhere simply out of duty. I think there is a balance, but I'm not sure where the balance is. I can see and understand my friend's point very well. But I have also been that person who dreaded going to Navs but continued to go because of a sense of duty. So which is more important? And where is the balance?
The premise for his argument is that, Navs isn't always going to fill you up but that there's a duty or obligation that overrides personal benefit. I partly agree with that. There are many things in life that we often do not feel like doing (like reading the Bible, prayer, etc) but have been called to obedience to do because in the long run, these things will better us and our relationship with God. However, I also have several big disagreements with my friend's argument.
Another premise for his argument is that the people in Navs and the Navigator organization should be growing together. I do not necessarily agree with that outlook. Navigators is an organization that is meant to serve the college population; it provides discipleship opportunities and fellowship for those looking to get connected and belong to the body of Christ. However, people grow out of college and move onto different things. Navs cannot grow out of college. What this means is that Navs will teach and reach a very specific genre of people. Navs will grow them and (hopefully) aid them in developing a deeper relationship with Jesus. But once growth occurs, the Nav model may no longer fit where the person is spiritually. It's not Nav's fault, and it's not the person's fault. But then the question becomes, do you continue to play in a pool that you have grown out of?
I have struggled with this question a lot in the past. Part of me does feel this sense of duty to an organization that has invested in me, but another part of me wants to take what I have received and invest it in other areas that I feel led to. However, we are only one person with a finite amount of time. Last year I chose to get involved with high school ministry which meant that Navs had to take a backseat. Do I feel bad? A little. But I would have felt worse if I had continued with my leadership involvement in Navs knowing that my heart was not there and that I could have invested both my heart and time in something that really mattered to me and God's kingdom.
Obviously, some people have to be in the pool, but I feel hypocritical telling someone to stay somewhere simply out of duty. I think there is a balance, but I'm not sure where the balance is. I can see and understand my friend's point very well. But I have also been that person who dreaded going to Navs but continued to go because of a sense of duty. So which is more important? And where is the balance?
posted by chen at 11:28 AM
2 Comments:
I think that the problem comes in because Nave is a self proclaimed "studen lead" organization. They do have staff, but the staff can't do everything. Navs depends on students leading other students.
But, I think that its also a growth thing. For some students, it helps their growth in God to lead other students at Navs. I don't believe that anyone should be there and absolutely hate it the whole time.
I think that God is big enough to call people to Navs that either really have a passion for it, or are still growing through leadership in it.
But for those of us who no longer have envolvement in Navs, perhaps our duty is to continue to pray for it, and that God would bring those special people to Navs.
Hey, I had this drop off feeling after I graduated. Frankly, learning to how separate myself away from Navs helped me learn how to prepare for ultimately moving away to continue pursuing God's purpose for myself.
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