"Jesse continued watching and found themselves drawn" (S78)
Creators: name: Team, Gen Z
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 500501
subject: Theology

description: Jesse continued watching and found themselves drawn into the speaker’s passion. The individual, an older woman with kind eyes and a warm smile, shared stories of resilience, faith, and the importance of community. Each word resonated with Jesse, stirring something deep within—a longing for connection and understanding that had been overshadowed by the chaos of unread messages and unanswered questions.As the video progressed, Jesse learned about the woman's journey through hardship and loss, how she had turned to spirituality not just for comfort, but as a guiding force in her life. There was something magnetic about her presence, something that made Jesse forget about their own frustrations for a moment. The woman spoke about finding solace in nature, in the laughter of friends, and in small acts of kindness. Jesse couldn’t help but reflect on how detached they felt from those simple joys.After the video ended, Jesse hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen. They could easily return to the flood of notifications or mindlessly scroll through social media, but something tugged at their conscience. Instead, they searched for more videos by the woman, wanting to hear more of her wisdom. With each new clip, Jesse felt a sense of clarity emerging, like a fog lifting.Motivated by the woman's insights, Jesse took a deep breath and decided to step outside for a moment. The afternoon sun warmed their skin as they walked down the street. For the first time in days, Jesse looked up, noticing the vibrant colors of the flowers lining the sidewalk and the laughter of children playing in a nearby park. It felt like a world alive with possibility, something Jesse had almost forgotten existed.As Jesse walked, thoughts swirled in their mind. They recalled the woman’s stories about how she had found solace through community service. Inspired, Jesse began to think about ways to reconnect with others. What if they volunteered somewhere? What if they reached out to friends instead of letting the messages pile up?Jesse pulled out their phone again but this time, instead of the notifications that had initially filled them with dread, they opened the contacts app. They scrolled through names, hesitating briefly over a few. Finally, they sent a message to their closest friend: “Hey, I’ve been feeling a bit lost. Want to grab coffee and catch up?”The reply came almost instantly. “Of course! I’ve missed you. How about tomorrow?”With a smile, Jesse put the phone away, feeling lighter. They didn’t know what the next few days would hold, but for the first time in a while, they felt a flicker of hope. Jesse realized that distraction could lead to connection, and that sometimes, a simple moment of inspiration from a stranger could ignite a change in direction.Back at home, Jesse returned to the video series, eager to continue learning from the woman’s experiences. They felt an urgency to cultivate their own spiritual journey, to seek out beauty in the mundane, and to forge deeper connections with the people around them.As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and purple, Jesse felt ready to embrace whatever came next. They had 32 unread messages, but perhaps it was time to start writing their own story—one filled with meaning, purpose, and connection.