Generations – Words of Maureen Wu

I think, before I reached university, I’ve taken the advice from adults for granted. Sure, I listened carefully when it came to university advices...or cooking advices (a few of them definitely didn't go over too well...) or what not. But I've definitely turned away what could've been potentially very good advice from too many adults. Parents. Aunts and uncles. Teachers. Even councilors and a youth pastor. I could look back now and regret not heeding more carefully, but I think, we're given other chances to listen, if we really wanted to, and today, I got one of those.

So Mrs Wu, Joanna and Heidi's mom, works in Stratford, and was kind enough to give me a lift back to Stratford. In the 45 minutes or so, she just started asking me a few questions and talking about stuff. I was actually kind of surprised. Most people wouldn't chose to talk "deep" with some random people...especially some kid you just met yesterday. Yet...as soon as I got into the car, she got into the heart of things: service. fellowship. leadership. opportunities.

I think, from that session, I've learned mainly two things from Mrs Wu's words: passion and empathy. Leadership is often mainly one thing: a person or group of people you look up to. Role model. The dude (and dudette) that seems to be able to do everything. They're capable, sure. Often that's all we see. Yet...

She pointed towards passion. Towards dedication. There will be people who can exert 20% and still do better then people who exert all their might, yet without dedication, without drive, you don't put your all into it. Even if you are better, you'll eventually pass it up. The movie Gattaca (awesome movie, btw) comes to mind. You can be taught skills. You can't be taught passion. CCF's size is both a blessing and a curse. If we come together, there's more then enough of us to paint the campus blue. Yet...bystander effect comes at full blast when it comes to service. But unlike words of Elaine, I'll take it from Auntie Maureen's point of view. Perhaps we don't serve because we don't think we're good enough. Or as Joanna put it: "super Christian". I think everyone who's familiar with the committee of last term would know what we're talking about. People like Eric. People like Lue. People like Mike. I've heard the wisdom of these people via Grad video or just other discussions, and each of them would claim they're no different then we are. Maybe they're being modest. Or maybe they're convinced enough in what they do...in their visions and whatnot, for CCF...

God used Moses, not because he was a leader or a super Christian. He used him because Moses came to him. Moses followed where God led him, though sometimes not without some kicking and dragging. What was Auntie Maureen getting at? Passion is contagious. Passion is a core leadership requirement. Skills are nice, but passion...dedication...that will to put your all into service...or teaching...or whatever...she suggested that's far more important then just being able to pwn.

One of the key things about prayer is a reminder to be persistent, and faithful and bold about our prayers. If we recognize God as someone who is all powerful, then we should not be afraid to come to Him with bold and crazy requests, and to trust him he will give us all that is necessary.

-Captain Jane (Huang)

So prayer is the bridge that will give us what we need. Like I've said before, you can learn skills. You can't learn passion.

The second thing I got out of it is empathy. The example she pulled was very familiar. Both Bily and Jon Lo have taken rides with Joanna's parents. Between them two and PT, I got the contacts I needed so that I can go to Waterloo on weekends to do stuff. Yet...how was Bily and Jon able to help me? How did they know to tell me to contact her...or Uncle Keith...or Uncle Joseph? Simple. They went though the same thing I'm going through. They went through Stratford work term too. As a frosh who has seen CCF from both outside in 1A...and inside in 1B...I can understand people who feel intimated by the sheer size CCF can have. I think, Auntie Maureen was saying that often we don't know what we're capable of. We don't know what we have. Skills. Opportunities. Passion. Foresight. Vision. Meh. You don't need it all to make a difference. As long as you have one, the rest will fall into place. Pray about it.

Reference: Mrs Maureen Wu, and Captain Jane Huang