“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7

Apple paper plates with name tags and a toy school bus centerpiece, Elmer’s glue and penmanship paper graced my daughter-in-love’s table for Joel’s first day of preschool at home. In the last few weeks, Joel, like most students across the country, has started his formal education. He’s eager to learn, informing his local librarian with pride that he was starting preschool as he picked up the books his mom had reserved. He can’t wait to learn how to use scissors, write his letters, and explore the characteristics of different forest animals.

There is something about the first day of school that I have always loved. With a fresh box of perfectly tipped crayons, blank notebooks, and crisp folders, I looked forward to packing my backpack and starting school. This carried on to college, when I purchased my books from the bookstore, and couldn’t wait to receive my syllabus to see what I was going to learn. It continued as a home educator when the process of picking curriculum, creating a schedule, and embarking on a new learning adventure with my own children sparked joy in my life. Like Meg Ryan’s character in You’ve Got Mail, I would have been pleased to receive a “bouquet of newly sharpened pencils” from a person who loved school supplies as much as I did.

Today, I no longer buy school supplies, or wait for UPS to deliver curriculum. I only purchase new crayons for my Sunday School class or my grandchildren. But the first day of school pictures on Instagram and the school supply section at Target still make September a new beginning. For me, it’s a time to reflect on being a lifelong learner. Just like Joel, I am excited to learn new ideas, thoughts, and perceptions. Even though I may not be in a classroom, I still want to grow as a Christian and broaden my horizons.

Being a lifelong learner requires intentionality. Just like parents and students prepare for the new school year, I need to prioritize learning new ideas and gaining new perspectives. I need to evaluate my sources and have a balanced approach to where I get news and information. I must recognize that if all my information is coming from an echo chamber, I may not be getting an accurate perception. And most importantly, I need to actively study the Bible, not just read it.

In the last few years, I have approached my personal Bible study differently. I am currently taking the time to slowly read scripture, and look up meanings of words, customs, and culture to get a deeper understanding of what is written and why. I also am paraphrasing my thoughts about what individual portions of scripture are telling me about God. Finally, through podcasts like BEMA Discipleship, I am getting a deeper understanding of the Hebrew perspective and how it influenced the stories written in the Bible. It’s amazing to find out how my western point of view has misinformed my perception of characters, stories, and principles.

For years, I was a talk radio addict, listening to various conservative thinkers pontificating on major news and issues. It shaped how I viewed current events, voted for political leaders, and interpreted history. This echo chamber was supported further with some of the Christian voices I was listening to both in the homeschooling circle and on the radio. I became indoctrinated and rarely listened to anything that was contrary to these thinkers.

And life continued, until the 2016 election, #Metoo movement, immigration, and building the wall battles, followed by the pandemic and later racial upheaval due to police brutality. My typical news sources no longer seemed balanced with the reality of video footage of police brutality, patients dying in hospitals, and stories of immigrant detainees. I soon became disillusioned with news and began wondering what God had to say about the world around me.

While reading the Bible, the words of the Jewish and Christianity admonishments to care for the “widow, fatherless and foreigner” began to be illuminated across the Bible. Deuteronomy alone mentions this population eleven times with very specific expectations on how the community was to care for them. The care for these marginalized segments of the population were a mark of what made those who believed in God different. Jesus, both in actions and deeds, demonstrated how we should care for marginalized people. He elevated women and other outsiders by including them in His inner circle. He preached that those who will inherit the kingdom of God are the ones who took care of strangers by clothing them and taking them in.

With these scriptures in mind, I began to seek sources that aligned with these principles. I found several podcasts that were asking hard questions about Christianity in relation to the news and issues. Two, The Bulletin and The Russell Moore Show are produced by Christianity Today. Both address current events like how to handle AI technology and what does the Barbie movie say about women and men. Instead of eliciting an emotive response, they tend to feature reporters and thinkers across genres who articulate well thought out answers. I also have found Confronting Christianity with Rebecca McLaughlin thought provoking as well. She, along with the previous co-host Kyle Worley, address issues like gender identity, human rights issues, and race in the context of Christianity. None of these podcasts are watering down scripture, instead they are more fully expressing the gospel in relation to these issues.

Finally, I am actively reading books that address some of the hard issues. I found books like She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, Solito by Javier Zamora, and I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America by Tyler Merrit give perspectives that make me pause and think before forming an opinion. Whether its sexual harassment, immigration, or race, these are complicated issues rooted in historical context that cannot be whitewashed by patriotic sentiments. They need to be confronted and addressed if change is going to happen.

About seven years ago, I got my first set of bifocal glasses. It was amazing how quickly my eyes adapted to the two different prescriptions on my lenses. I no longer had to move my glasses to read a text from my husband or strain to read a book in bed. Everything seemed crisper and clearer. I could see both far and near. In many ways, I think these last few years I have gotten a new set of lenses regarding my Christian worldview. It’s become wider and more comprehensive. I have learned to recognize that I didn’t see things as clearly as I thought and that being a Christian is about compassionate, not angry tweets. In no way do I think I have all the answers; it’s a constant balancing of act of learning and integrating while resting on a Christian foundation. And I agree with the words of Rebecca McLaughlin in her book Confronting Christianity, “Like paleontologists sifting through the dirt, we must excavate what the Bible actually says while dusting off the cultural dross.”

“Don’t let anyone despise your youth,” 1 Timothy 4:11

This is a breaking announcement accompanied by a drumroll, confetti, and fireworks! I have discovered the elusive Fountain of Youth! Yes, I repeat, I have discovered the Fountain of Youth! No, it wasn’t found on a pilgrimage to Florida. And it wasn’t found in a new anti-aging product that I am trying to influence you to buy, nor is it found in an exercise routine or healthy eating plan. Instead, it is found by cultivating joy in your life through embracing the wisdom of older generations juxtaposed with choosing to be inspired by younger generations.

I have spent the last four weeks sharing insights on discovering joy through my interviews with Cheryl, Michele, Barb, and Nancy. These women are aging gracefully because they activate joy in their lives despite suffering, disappointment, and loss. Today, I am going to explore how being inspired by a younger generation keeps me energized with joy.

I am highlighting three women, Lexi Holmgren, Brittany Epler, and Lexi Peterson, who are still in their early to mid-twenties. This list could have been so much longer because this age group is filled with thoughtful and innovative women reflecting the image of God through their creative pursuits. And they do this with joy that is seen both in person and in how they portray themselves in social media.

It was the last day of our whirlwind vacation in Wisconsin. We were gathering at Lexi and Caleb Holmgren’s apartment for our last night of fellowship and Midwest-style pizza. Tired, I walked into Lexi’s apartment, exhaling a sigh of contentment upon entering. With warm lighting and comfortable furniture, her apartment reflected an ambience that made me feel enveloped in a cozy hug. It was easy to see Lexi had curated her space for the purpose of hospitality, which I later learned had been modeled for her by her mother. As I continued a tour of her home, I spied a shelf where Lexi displayed her future aspirations in the form of serving dishes and linens related to food photography.

Lexi has been married to “the best husband ever”, Caleb, for four years, where they together lead worship and the youth for their church. For years, I have seen her beaming smile in pictures with her friends and family. But recently, she has become the smile behind the camera by starting a photography business. Lexi was given a camera when she was fifteen years old, and played around with it a little bit, but it was soon forgotten. Then Covid hit, and being an extrovert, Lexi dealt with quarantine boredom by learning how to use the manual mode on her camera. After many YouTube videos, and a lot of practice, she began photography as a side hustle.

Later, Lexi was offered the opportunity to take pictures of food for the wellness company she was working for as a graphic designer. The company also paid for her to study under a food photography mentor, where she continued to improve her skills. She loved the story arc of creating a theme using food, linens, and décor. She has decided to pursue this as a future career, taking some business and food photography courses online. Lexi dreams of shooting a cookbook in the future.

Lexi’s vocal tone lifted with joy as she shared her future aspirations. Joy, for Lexi, doesn’t align itself with the Google definition of “great pleasure or happiness”. As a Christian, she recognizes that happiness is temporary, based on circumstances. Instead, she believes that “Biblical joy is choosing to respond to circumstances with inner contentment because God will use these experiences to accomplish His perfect will” in her life. And it is evident when, during boredom and confinement, she chose to invest her time in a talent that she didn’t realize she had. As in the verse that most speaks about joy in her life, Lexi used the mourning of time not spent with friends to allow her fingers to dance across the buttons on a camera, because she believes “You have turned my mourning into dancing.”

Like Lexi Holmgren, Brittany Epler is married to her best friend, Kory, celebrating four years this coming November. Brittany proclaims with passion that she “loves serving Jesus”, spending time with her dog, Tucker, kayaking, and planning her next adventure. Brittany entered my life a few years ago when she was one of my daughter’s bridesmaids. I quickly adopted her into my family, loving her sense of humor and whimsy.  Brittany also has a design aesthetic that I find comfortable and cozy. She believes less is more, except when it comes to plants. A few years ago, Brittany started out with her undiscovered green thumb by taking care of cacti. Soon, she started adding small house plants, graduating to bigger plants, officially losing track of how many she has. She finds taking care of plants peaceful and calming.

At Maggie’s bridal shower, I delegated to her bridesmaids to accomplish my vision of a panini charcuterie. Brittany quickly took the lead, turning my vision into an art form by creating roses from salami and ham.  After that, she started using Pinterest to google all the different ways to cut cheese, and soon found herself creating theme boards for people. She loves people’s faces filled with joy when they look at her creations.

Brittany longed to express herself artistically and God, faithful as always, brought out her artistry with houseplants and charcuterie, along with dabbling in floral design and watercolor, at the perfect time. These artistic endeavors have provided some therapeutic outlets and escapes through some challenging circumstances. God’s gift of helping Brittany discover her talents aligns with her definition of joy. She believes that “joy is calmness and peace in your heart no matter what circumstances looks like.” It also is her strength from God, supported in scripture in Nehemiah 8:11. And most importantly, it is God using creative outlets to keep Brittany focused on joy when she needs it most.

Of the three younger women, I have known Lexi Peterson the longest and I am surprised at how her curiosity and creativity continue to evolve. Originally from Colorado, she currently lives in Pennsylvania and works as a dairy hand milking cows. She loves baking, playing volleyball, and taking care of plants. On Sundays, Lexi walks into church in a dress that is both feminine and distinct. She would not describe herself as a “fashionista”, but is intentional in expressing herself through her clothing, whether at church or browsing a bookstore. She is not trying to make a fashion statement but enjoys the art of putting together an outfit that represents her authentically.

This authenticity is not only expressed in her clothing, but in her worship. Lexi leads Silent Witness, a group where she choreographs ASL sign and artistic interpretation movements set to music for the purpose of worship. With a whole-body expression of worship, she connects to God without inhibition. She, along with her group, inspires those watching to worship as well. With the same intensity, Lexi creates beautiful desserts, tablescapes with flowers, and has recently discovered cooking Indian food. She continues to want to “broaden her horizons and explore different things.”

For Lexi, joy is a combination of being content, expressing gratefulness, and having peace. Joy is found in the promises of God in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” She is confident that God wants what is best for her, has her where she is now, and knows where she will be in the future. For her, this joy expresses itself in both the quiet knowing of being in nature and working with animals and in the overwhelming feeling of joy when listening to a piece of music that brings hope.

These three incredible young women have been influenced by their mothers, and other women who encourage the development of their talents. And they believe that the older generation is important in their lives. Lexi H believes her generation is “bold, passionate, driven, and independent”, but they still need the genuine relationships with older women without judgement. She has a monthly coffee date with an older woman who listens to her concerns and offers kind words of wisdom sprinkled with love. Brittany wants older women to believe in her generation and trust them. She cautions us not to put them into a box, remember they are individuals who might approach life differently. Lexi P wants connections with the older generation to be authentic. She doesn’t need a mentor to be the perfect wise counsel, she just needs them to be genuine for her to be open about her own struggles.

All three have well developed thoughts and clarity about what joy is and how it expresses itself in their lives. They all express joy through a design esthetic that is authentic, comfortable, and inviting. They purse their creative interests with abandon, believing that God is for them. They lead busy lives but still find time for individual moments of joy. And all three of them express joy in their own unique ways. For Lexi H, “late night snuggles with Caleb, hugs from her nephews, and seeing students thrive in her youth group” are just a few of her abundant joys. Watching puppies living in the moment and beautiful sunrises that embody both a moment of reflection and anticipation bring joy to Lexi P. Brittany summed up joy as a gift from God that she can open each morning. It may be reading the word of God or going kayaking, and she believes that “Jesus makes it so easy to choose joy.”

In these last five weeks, I have discovered joy in many different expressions. I have been inspired by all the women, young and old, who have contributed to my project. Joy is contagious, life-giving, and helps me age gracefully.