Wayne Young, Jr. currently works within the Department of Residence Life and is a Creighton product himself (BA in Organizational Communication, 1993). After Creighton, Wayne went to Texas A&M where he received his Master's in Education and then spent 3 years as a live-in, full time, resident director at Marquette University.  Currently he is working on coursework for his Ph.D.  He is very excited to be a part of the Creighton community and his wife, Heather, and he are expecting their second child later this summer.
 

As I sat back to reflect on the Jubilee year and the Creighton mission, all I could think about was the fact that I am going to soon be a daddy again. Already the proud father of one Ms. Kayla Young, this past Tuesday night I found out that my wife and I weren't just having another child--we were having two!  This news has slowly begun to settle in both of us.  Now our discussions are about purchasing a double stroller, a second high chair, etc.  Our investment level has changed.  Life has changed.

The millennium changed life for me as well.  I was one of those idiots that woke up to watch Peter Jennings usher in the new year.  I can't tell you how much the change from 1999 to 2000 affected me.  Seeing the parties and celebrations in Sydney, Hong Kong, Paris, New York, and even the Millennium Lights in downtown Omaha--all of these resonated something inside of me; as the world grows larger, more powerful, more informed, and more technical, we are growing smaller, closer, and are becoming one.  It was interesting to hear, later, how many people watched other nations celebrate this change.  I was struck by the fact that we, all countries, took pride and joy in watching one another celebrate the millenium.  Is this a sign that the investment we have in each other has deepened?  I think so.  Life has changed.

In today's panel presentation we were asked to address the spirit of Creighton and give evidence/support to the Church's declaration for the forgiveness of debts--all in light of the Jubilee year.  Simply put, the Church's declaration for the forgiveness of debts goes way past bringing certain countries out of financial ruin--it really is the Church's way of saying, reinvest yourself in caring for others.  In fact, I don't view the Church's declaration as so much of question to the nations with money as it is a 11th commandment in some ways.  I honestly believe and feel that this Jubilee marks a chance for us to change life for future generations. Perhaps this is the mark of a more loving, more educated, and smaller world community.  Perhaps the church is saying "Think.  Care.  Act."  Life has changed.  Now change yourself.

Change yourself.  Open your eyes to the injustices of the world and what you can do to help.  Open your eyes to caring for your neighbor, for lawmaking, and for things you believe in.  Realize that life is about renewing yourself and the world we live in and that God is asking us to renew ourselves now, in a way, rebirthing the world for a new age.

This new age is exciting and what happens at Creighton for all of us--students, staff, and faculty alike--should prepare us well.  Creighton's spirit is unique.  It is a very special feeling few, if any, other campuses have.  The people here are a rare find and the community and caring that comes along with this place cannot, nor should not, be easily encapsulated in a simple sentence, but here is my shot at a phrase that can give you a glimpse about Creighton:  Creighton's spirit is all about investing in one another.

Some may ask, how does this help us prepare for the new age?  My answer to this, as a Creighton fan, grad, and staff member is simple.  Catholic education is all about open dialogue, indeed, open communication.  Creighton was founded by folks instrumental in the transcontinental telegraph--open communication.  Our very university is built on an old railroad line in a railroad town that--connected people.  Last year our university broke through to new levels establishing an E-Commerce degree--involving ourselves in the technical, new age forms of communication--connecting people.  There is a trend here and it is not just coincidence.  Rather, one could say that Creighton's spirit and history is all about connecting people; ie: building community.

This is what the Jubilee year is all about.  Recognizing that life has changed, we are one people, and that we are called to reinvest in one another.  Life has changed.