Powered By Blogger

Thursday, July 7, 2011

"I'm Exploring"

Yesterday was a day for me to listen to today's youth. No matter who we are, we look back on our youth and see how many choices, how many temptations, and how confusing it could all be. But yesterday, I had to wonder...what about today's youth?

Youth is a time to explore..what do you want to do with your life? Will I get married, have kids? What career do I want to go for? Where will I settle?

And yesterday, a young lady shared with me, "I'm exploring." However, her exploring wasn't about any of the above....it was about God, or gods, or.....

And I listened, and I shared. But then as I had time to reflect and think about our youth today, and their choices in the realm of what to believe, what to set their focus on, I think our world has really opened up the options. It has given them quite a bit to "explore". 

I heard her sharing with me, and was a little baffled. This is a young lady who has attended church, and that is where the conversation started. She said, "yes, I still go to church, but I am not a Christian." Which, did not phase me or surprise me. Plenty of people may answer that way. But as I delved further, I learned she believed in God, believed the bible was true and inspired by God....however, wasn't certain she likes the narrow path part. She is looking for a god who will love her, and not judge her......and from the sounds of it not have too many rules for her.

And that is what makes me wonder....do our youth today think it should be easy and they deserve things given to them? Little sacrifice. Lots of gain. A very wide path, open to several interpretations, and lots of ways in. And actually...do we have a lot of adults thinking the same way? And is this where the actual problem lies, within our society, that continues to shift. I really think it does.

I went from this conversation to a youth group at church. It was refreshing and inspiring to listen to some of them. Their biblical knowledge amazed me. Their sharing of making choices and decisions that was difficult for them, but knowing it was the right thing to do.

The difference between these kids? Not really sure. Upbringing? Life experiences? Personality types?

I am thankful this young lady is exploring. And as I told her....I hope she finds the truth, and I hope she prays and asks God to show it to her. We should never be followers of men....we should seek and find the truth from God and his word.

I am concerned with all the paths out there, and so many things with their neon signs calling our youth in. And if they are hurting, searching, looking for love and to fit in...Christianity may appear judgemental and tough, when these other signs scream acceptance and love.

The web of deception is simple to get caught up in. I think we need to be there for our youth, be leaders, imitators of God and his love...and maybe not sound so judgemental at times. Let's raise our neon signs higher and brighter, and help them find their way as they explore.

Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."

May you find salt and light in my words, always.

1 comment:

  1. I see "entitlement" in our youth today -- and I also see it with the twenty-somthing age group too. I LOVE your heart and passion to simply speak truth but not in a judgemental way. YOU were a blessing in that young woman's life, a light in her world. I believe that our job is to plant seeds, not to FORCE our beliefs on others. God is the ultimate Source of Truth, HE will do His work in the lives of others - we are called to love, to be His hands and feet. Of course we are also called to water, and harvest too when we are led.

    You commented on my post and I followed your link here - thank you for sharing. I'm looking forward to growing with you as we unpack The Lord's Prayer!! =)

    Keeping it Personal,
    Teri Johnson

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear your thoughts. Questions, prayer requests, ideas for my writing. If you want to keep your comment from being published I will be happy to do that for you.