Brain Drain

In the summer of 2013, I took a management course as a part of the curriculum for my construction engineering degree. This was a very interesting course to me, but one thing really stuck out to me about this class.  My teacher introduced the class to the term “brain drain.” Brain drain is the departure of educated or professional people from one country, economic sector, or field for another usually for better pay or living conditions. This is why many of us pursue a college degree. We go to school in hopes of getting a job so that we can leave home and move to a place that offers everything that our hometown didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, this is our right, and I see nothing wrong with that. That was at one point my dream. But this term brain drain really got me to thinking. If all of the educated people leave, what will happen to the future generations in those communities? Who will give them hope of a brighter future? As I mentioned in an earlier blog I changed my major to elementary education after a lot of prayer. This was something that was very dear to my heart. Being that I’m from MS, considered one of the poorest and most uneducated states in the U.S., I wanted to have an impact on turning that around. After all, that is what life is about. We are here to be a blessing to others. So many people choose a place to stay based on how it will benefit them, not how they can be a blessing to others. Christians are to be a source of hope, and there’s no way we can bring hope if we run from every opportunity to make a difference. A verse that was revealed to me after I began to think about this is Isaiah 61:4, “And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” This is a charge given to all believers. When I think of old ruins, I think of something that was once great. Maybe once upon a time your city was flourishing with excitement and potential, but somehow things came crashing down. but there's no reason that you can’t help return it to it’s former glory. We can choose to keep walking or we can choose to restore. It’s a chance for us to bring healing to others. To raise up former desolations means to give hope to what was once hopeless. Repair the broken communities by using your education and knowledge to influence those in broken cities. We have the power to be the change in the world. This may not touch everyone the same, but I hope that some will be touched to think about this. God’s greatest commandment is in Matthew 22:35-40. We are to love God and love others. Nothing done in love says to receive. It’s all about giving.
I think about the life of King Solomon. King Solomon was the richest man in the world. He had all the money, women, houses, and jewelry that anyone could dream of. His possessions were plenty, but at the end of his life he said that all of these things were “vantiy and vexation of spirit.” It was all emptiness and troubling of his spirit. What we can learn from this is that seeking the be the richest or have the best possessions may be a worthless pursuit. It won’t mean a thing in the end. Money won’t mean much of anything if it isn’t being used towards a good purpose. Instead focus on something else. I’m a firm believer that God will supply all of my NEEDS (Philippians 4:19). So if helping build up old ruins means I have to drive a Toyota instead of a Lexus, my need for transportation is being met. If it means I have to wear the same shoes for two years, still my need for clothing is being met. If I have to eat chicken instead of steak, God still met my need for food. So if I have to sacrifice having the luxuries of life I will do so if it provides me with the opportunity to restore old ruins. Life is but a vapor, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away(James 4:14).” It is over before you know it, and I plan to spend mine making a difference in the world rather than chasing things that really won’t matter in the end. Let us all have the heart to to restore old ruins. When a group of educated people come together we have the chance to make a difference in the lives of others. May God guide you to be that difference.