Sunday evening Joan and I watched a most intriguing presentation sponsored by Candler Theological Seminary. It was called TheoEd, a spinoff of TED talks. Five presenters, on various topics, shared their thoughts and insights for twenty minutes each.

The one which caught my attention the most was by Dr. Kara Powell, a pastor, researcher, and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary. Her focus was the three questions which those in the Gen Z generation are asking themselves as they learn to negotiate this world.

She started with the statement that this generation, Gen Z, is the most anxious, adaptive, and diverse generation we have had in the last century. It is these thee factors which cause them to ask:1) Who am I? ; 2) Where do I fit? ; and 3) What difference can I make?

These three questions are looking for answers about identity, belonging, and purpose. These areas of concern are not for which this generation wants pat answers, but they want to explore these questions with people who are willing to have a relationship with them on their journey.

Dr. Powell says for those of us who are Christian faith-based we can provide answers, but the Gen Z generation must wrestle with these questions and we can give them unqualified support.

As a Christian we can answer each question through our faith. First, Who am I? is answered by the word “enough.” Jesus tells us we are enough.

Often times when we are anxious it is because we don’t believe in our worth. We don’t feel we can measure up to the expectations of our parents, friends or employers. Yet, Jesus tells us that we are enough by just being who we are.

The second question has a one word answer also, it is we are “with” those who surround us. We fit where we feel we belong. We search for affirmation from those with whom we have a relationship. We were created for community and if we don’t believe we fit into that community or are accepted by that community we feel adrift and believe we have no place which we can call our own. God longs for us to all be a part of God’s family. It is with us even if we aren’t aware of it.

Finally, the last question can be answered by our story, our page in history is part of the history of God’s story. We are part of the great design which God continues to create in this world and our existence has a purpose. There is no one else like us and there is a page in God’s story reserved for us. We just need to start writing on it.

Dr. Powell reminds us that these questions asked by generation Z are not their questions along but they are also our questions. We, like they, must embrace these questions and ferret out our answers. Perhaps one of these questions dominates your thoughts and actions more than the others. Then that is the question with which we need to wrestle.

How best to help those around us with those questions? It is to affirm they are “enough.” That we will walk “with” them through the morass of this life. They are important for they add to the “story” of this world.

One thing I really believed is important is we can only share our journey with others we can’t tell them what to believe or give them our answers. It is also important that we don’t demand agreement with our answers, but we can offer others our humble option. But not matter what we are all in this world together, let’s work together and it will surely count.