Eclecticism is great when it’s the result of a priority on relationships. Most of my meetings now are aproximeetings: we pick a general time, and then arrange things that day via text/IM/Facebook/Twitter/carrier pigeon/etc. In a way this says, “I’m not so much concerned with what, where, or when as I am with you.” A lot of our stuff is eclectic because we keep relationships central, and so events shift and morph based on who shows up, what we have going that week, etc. Our level of connectedness helps with this (thanks technology!), but our group size does as well: if we had hundreds coming to the things we did, it wouldn’t be as easy to change things up.

Though it’s my preferred style, eclecticism can be driven by consumeristic and self centered tendencies (read pride and greed) as well. An aproximeeting can just as easily say, “You’re not as important as I am, so let me fit you in at my convenience and avoid a firm commitment.” Eclecticism in meetings can be driven by a desire to pander to as many preferences as possible, or by whim and fancy rather than love and mission.

I think you’ve hit on something important here. It seems to me that helping students think through the ways that they’re eclectic and the reasons why, and modeling healthy ways of being so, could be really helpful to them as they seek to shape their lives around Jesus.

Just to clarify, in the first sentence of your comment, are you contrasting intentionality with eclecticism? I don’t know that I would consider those opposites among Millennials, though their obsession with multi-tasking certainly can lead to a lack of true, focused impact (in any sphere of life).

I am apart of this generation, and I love the idea of doing multiple things at once and more importantly feeling involved and like I have apart of the “show”