“ The Bubble is good!”
By Anjie Martin
My high school days were spent going to an inner-city public school in America. In school, I was daily surrounded by kids swearing, outbreaks of fighting, bullying, racial discrimination, hateful rumors, and student-imposed segregation into fixed“ cliques”. My school friends were plagued with family problems. My peers tried to pressure me to cheat, defy authority, take drugs and have sex. I was born into a family of Christ followers and was a teen who wrestled with making faith personal. Like anyone else I wanted to be accepted and have friends. Talk of faith at school was not welcome and was met with stares and glares. I felt like I lived in two worlds- school and church. My faith was fragile and I often felt alone and torn between having friends and having faith. I daily had to remind myself to live“ in the world but not of the world” and to be“ salt and light.” I graduated never wanting to return. Here at MICS I see the kind of environment I wish was present in my high school. I see a protected, safe place where students can be free to explore and express their faith without being condemned. I see circles of caring friends who do not rejoice when evil is done to someone else. It’ s a place former students want to return to visit. People talk with disdain about the MICS“ bubble” saying that it is nothing like the“ real” world. And to that I say,“ I agree! It’ s way better!”
“ The Bubble is... bad!”
By Scott R. Martin
There is no debate that we live in a“ bubble”. This community, by its structure, shelters its members from much of the outside world. I present to you that this“ bubble” is dangerous, when we do not have to take risks or question our positions, it makes us weak and immature. When too many people agree with each other, it creates a false sense of confidence and a warped view of the world. Your faith will be tested, your heart will be tugged upon, your life will be impacted just as you will be given the opportunity to impact the lives of others. You will find you have MUCH to learn and experience, and when you“ fall” you will fall hard, but it will not kill you and you will have the opportunity to learn. Outside the“ bubble” service has greater impact, and higher risk, which means it can even be a greater reward. Outside the“ bubble” you will find that a much lower percentage agree with you, forcing you to really know what you believe and be able to back it up, making your faith more real and authentic. The“ bubble” itself may be inevitable, but how we respond is not. Get out when you can, venture into the beautiful neighborhoods in which we live, meet people not associated in anyway with the school, travel and explore the rest of Indonesia and you will find so much more, expand your knowledge, your service and your impact.
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