Talking to students about love and relationships

“Which one of these cards represents love to you?”

With our Soularium cards spread out across a Valentine-red table, we engaged students in conversations this week about their perspectives on love and relationships. The turnout for this pop-up was great. We were able to have spiritual conversations with people who we otherwise wouldn’t have been able.

Soularium cards are a spiritual conversation tool developed by Cru. Each card has an image on it, which conveys a particular emotion. Individuals can choose which ones represent their feelings about their current lives, ideal lives, and perspectives about God.

My favorite in the new, smaller deck is #7. It shows a man with a bunch of post-it notes surrounding him. These post-its have others’ expectations for him written on them. Being covered by them, the man is visibly overwhelmed.

I think that’s what a lot of my fellow students experience. They face pressure to live up to the expectations of their parents, professors, and peers. There is always a deadline to meet, goal to accomplish, and purpose to grasp for.

As a student, I feel the weight too. There is always something to be striving for. And it can get heavy.

That’s why when I spend time with the Lord every morning, I have peace because I don’t need others’ approval. Rather, I am reminded of God’s approval made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

The outreach is an encouraging reminder that there are always opportunities to share the Gospel in a way which is sensitive to spiritual needs.