Every so often, I find myself wondering whether I am simply revisiting the same flourishing conversations humanity has been having for centuries or can something new be contributed to the journeys of so many over the centuries. As my mind tumbles around topics like wellness, character, vocation, flourishing, community engagement, intergenerational relationships, and rural health, a persistent question emerges: Am I discovering something new, or am I merely giving a fresh name to Ancient Concerns? The honest answer is probably both.

The more I read and reflect, the more I realize that many of the challenges we face today are not fundamentally new. These questions appear throughout Scripture, philosophy, literature, and the history of education. Long before universities discussed student engagement or flourishing, people were asking deeper questions such as: What does it mean to live well? How should we care for one another? What kind of person am I becoming? How do we pass wisdom from one generation to the next?

These are Ancient Concerns.

Academia, like much of modern culture, often rewards novelty. We are encouraged to create new frameworks, new initiatives, new models, and new terminology. Innovation has its place, but sometimes our pursuit of the new causes us to overlook enduring truths. The reality is that flourishing is not a new discovery. Neither is character. Neither is community. Neither is vocation.

The challenge is not that humanity has failed to identify these ideas. The challenge is that every generation must determine how to embody them within its own unique context. The questions remain remarkably consistent even as the circumstances change.

Although the concerns are ancient, the context is not. Today’s students are navigating a world marked by digital connectivity and relational isolation. Communities across Appalachia and beyond face growing challenges associated with aging populations, healthcare shortages, declining civic engagement, and fragmentation of traditional community structures.

At the same time, many older adults are entering a season that Louise Aronson calls Emerging Elderhood, a stage of life that may extend for twenty or thirty years beyond traditional retirement. Many are asking profound questions about purpose, contribution, and legacy. Meanwhile, universities are wrestling with questions of relevance and mission. Churches are seeking renewed ways to engage their communities. The ingredients are old. The circumstances are new.

One of my greatest concerns is the possibility of creating something that sounds inspiring but accomplishes very little. It’s just more rhetoric. Higher education is filled with beautiful language, but words alone are not enough. The challenge is not to define flourishing; it is to create the conditions in which people actually flourish.

As I continue developing course content and student initiatives, I am increasingly wondering how Christian higher education can serve as conveners. Many organizations and people all possess valuable resources and perspectives; yet these groups sometimes operate independently. A university campus has the potential to become a place where conversations become collaborations and where relationships become catalysts for community well-being.

When universities evaluate success, they often focus on enrollment, graduation rates, publications, fundraising, and rankings. These measures have value. But I wonder if Christian higher education should consider Changing the Metrics? Did we strengthen relationships? Did we help people discover purpose? Did we connect generations? Did we foster belonging? Did we contribute to the flourishing of our communities? These outcomes are far more difficult to quantify; but they are also far closer to the vision of human community that runs throughout Scripture.

In an age marked by fragmentation, loneliness, and uncertainty, maybe our greatest contribution is not creating new rhetoric but embodying Ancient Truths to address Ancient (and Modern) Concerns. The challenge before us is not discovering these truths for the first time; the challenge is practicing them faithfully in our time so that every generation flourishes.

Would you consider joining me in a prayer shared by pastor Eric Gilbert. Perhaps our hearts need to be stirred to address some Ancient Concerns with relevant approaches:

“Father, set our hearts on fire for You again. Remove the ashes that have gathered in our lives and forgive us for chasing the wrong fires. Help us hunger for Your Word, seek You in prayer, and welcome the work of Your Spirit. Light what has gone dark. Stir what has grown weak. And help us carry the flame of Your presence wherever we go. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Reference:

Gilbert, E. (2026, August 13). Stirred or stifled? [Blog post]. https://ericgilbert.org/blog/f/stirred-or-stifled?fbclid=IwY2xjawTq-RJwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7o5IfPF9gc4kaLWkdfKl9VJUsB25PO4JW9K111haO54uY2X1QJ0Ba2g9_7fQ_aem_cQiVNnFvRLiuJUVUZWtV_A