Over-commitment and burn-out.
To the average college student these two words encapsulate daily reality. In the consumerist driven marketplace of events, clubs, student activities, classwork, homework, internships, social life, social networking, e-mailing, and facebooking that sum up modern "Campus Life" most students who Rachel and I meet are scrambling desperately do at least two things: to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way, and to do something truly meaningful and significant with their time. Together these two things seem almost impossible to accomplish.
I don't mean to be cynical at all here. It's really mathematical. Doing something significant and meaningful requires us to devote hours upon hours of our focus and energy toward one goal or purpose; while, on the other hand, taking advantage of every opportunity means juggling dozens of things at once, and giving each thing a superficial amount of attention.
Trying to explain this to most students is like trying to tell a smoker that cigarettes are bad for them. Most of them will nod in agreement, agree they should live differently, but honestly they don't have the motivation or know-how to actually change course. I don't blame them; the drug of over-commitment and hyper-involvement has been pushed on them ever since middle school. This is how they have been taught to live. This is what they are being told life is all about...and we wonder why most college students struggle with anxiety and depression.
Several of the students Rachel and I meet with on a regular basis confess they are tired, strung-out, exhausted, and overworked. Actually, it is not uncommon for students to constantly ask to reschedule our meetings, or to miss church on a regular basis because of how busy they are.
I wish I could say churches are a refuge from this type of over-committed existence, but Rachel and I have recently been counseling two young adults from a local church who feel so heavy-laden with ministry responsibilities that they dream of coming home just to rock in the fetal position for a few hours before sleep. A slight exaggeration, but you get the point; and I don't believe their experience is an exception to the rule.
The lofty expectations of college students and young adults in our culture to be as hyper-active as chihuahuas and laborious as mules needs to be done away with. Students don't know what rest is anymore. I don't know a single college student who actually has a solid day off outside of fall breaks and holidays. There is no Sabbath rest for the college students. I asked a Chemistry student and Intervarsity small group leader at Haverford College the other day when he rests and he said on Thursday mornings before class, and sometimes in the afternoon when he is working for the tech group on campus. Similarly I spoke with a student from Eastern a few weeks ago who was taking 21 hours of class a week, working 25 hours a week (that's already a 46 hour work-week not including homework and the student club she is involved with) when she rested, and she said "when I sleep, which is about 3-4 hours a night."
The question is no longer whether students will experience burn-out, but when.
As you pray this week, ask God that he would provide rest and rejuvination for Ben Thompson of Haverford, Betsy of EU, Zack Groff of Temple, Jocelyn Groff of EU, Ben and Jess Mell of Manoa Presbyterian, Hannah Maclean of EU, Rachel Lim or Haverford, John Bridges of VFMC, Brandi of Uarts, and many, many others.
Pray that as we disciple these students and young adults God provides us with the words and wisdom to teach the discipline of rest to each of them, and that they would learn to begin making time to experience the gift of Sabbath each week.
Thank you for your prayers, love, encouragement, and support.
In Him,
Elliott and Rachel
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