I led out a small group last night. Small groups encourage me to follow Jesus more than large group programs. It’s ironic I say that because I’m one of the student association religious vice presidents (SA RVP). I’m responsible for two large group programs. (So why did I choose to take this position as SA RVP? I answered this question in an entry in my previous blog).

As I was leading the small group, I read 1 Thess. 5:18. The verse says, “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” And then I asked everyone to reply to this question: “What are you thankful for about Southwestern?” I asked this question partly for myself. I wanted to force myself to think positively about my university. It’s not that I don’t like Southwestern. But this is my 7th school year here (I’m on my second degree). Sometimes I take for granted Southwestern’s good qualities because I’ve been here so long. Sometimes I’ll have a critical, complaining attitude towards the school.

So, what were students thankful for about Southwestern?

One student was thankful for the diversity of the students. (This is so true and cool. Just in the small group, we had students from the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Missouri, Albuquerque, and Seattle. Someone was even born in England).

Someone else was thankful for the missions program. She encouraged us to become student missionaries.

One guy was thankful for the atmosphere at Southwestern. (While he was talking, one of the guys next to me moved his chair which caused it to make a loud farting noise. Everyone kinda paused and then started laughing. I think we knew it was the chair, but it was still funny. I kept saying, “The chair! The chair! Really!”)

Someone was thankful for the small town location, because he was from the country.

Many people were thankful for the friends they’ve made at Southwestern. Friends that they can talk to if they need to talk, friends that are good spiritual examples, friends that are like family away from home.

One of my friends, a relatively new Christian, said in all seriousness, “I’m thankful for (the) Adventist women (here at Southwestern)”. Best answer of the night. We paused when he said that and then some of us started cracking up. I blurted out, “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.” One girl almost smiled while giving him the I-can’t-believe-you-said-that look. Oh, to have the thankful attitude of a new Christian!

Someone spoke about how the environment here is much better than their previous environment.

One girl was thankful for her roommate.

Some students were really grateful to be here. I mean really grateful. They really like it here. I was impressed by their thankfulness. They encouraged me to be thankful for the good things I take for granted here.

In that old blog entry I talked about in the beginning, I wrote,

“I would much rather interact in a small group discussion than hear a sermon… I like the spontaneous dialogue in small groups. I like sitting in a circle and seeing everyone’s faces…”

Also, I like people being more real and authentic about spiritual things. There’s a tendency to fake your spirituality when you’re onstage in a large group religious program. It’s so much easier to be real when you’re with friends in a small group. I sensed God’s blessing as a diverse group of students were being thankful for different things about their school.

(By the way, I’m not against large group programs. I just get more out of small groups than large group programs. I talk about some of the benefits of large group programs in that old blog entry I keep talking about. What? You haven’t read it? That’s ok. You get another chance here).

So, what are you thankful for about Southwestern?