Friday Words
“Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.” (Rita Mae Brown)
Life has its teaching moments and for people who work and serve with children and youth allowing teaching moments to happen is often hard for us to do even though we know it is valuable knowledge. Two generations of parents have struggled with allowing their children to fail, make bad decisions and learn from those experiences; and these same egocentric, self esteem driven children and youth end up at church where community is valued more than individuality. They want and need community, but do not know how to ask for it or live in it. This is the byproduct of a personalized, super-sized, for-profit consumer salvation [Jesus & God] that is celebrated in some branches of Christendom that makes parenting, ministry with parents, their children and youth difficult. Christian has become so “generic” that the Christian unity movement can close up shop. Success!
Children and youth know, just know, that community (having a place to be comfortable, find identity, and safe space to question/learn) is better than the newest smart phone, app, and for some even a drivers license. They know it. As best you can allow teaching moments to happen. Too many children and youth have parents that are their friends when they need parents that behave like adults when experience comes from both, good and bad judgement. I tell youth I want them to learn how to live their discipleship consistently, in the good moments of life and during the bad judgement moments; and even when the bad judgement is not their own, but they are effected by it. Sometimes that means rescuing them from dangerous situations, but that does not mean removing the life teaching moment that comes with conversation, prayer, and reordering priorities following bad judgement. I’m grateful for the adults that allowed me to risk failure and gain life/faith experience.