Inside…Outside…Upside Down
This past weekend 120 middle school youth from 15 Kentucky DOC churches gathered in Bowling Green to worship, fellowship, work, play and learn together. Rev. Petie McLean wowed us with keynotes from the story of Zacchaeus. She reminded us that when Jesus enters into our lives, the world gets changed inside, outside, things get turned upside down.
She shared with us about how this hated individual was brought down out of the tree and turned into an insider because Jesus looks to the margins and brings those people into the circle of God's love. She reminded these kids that we are called to do the same. She pointed out to them the horrible way it feels to be the one left out and unloved. My heart swelled with joy to see our kids listening and looking around to make sure all who gathered that weekend were included in the circle. When a kid sat apart, there was always someone to get them and pull them back in…to include them in the conversation, the game, the work, the fun. God's people living the call!
Sometimes a little child shall lead them…but most of the time it takes a village to raise a child. While our youth responded so well to this weekend's message, it is unrealistic for us to assume they will always remember this and act in that same understanding. In addition, the majority of our youth did not participate in this weekend's event due to the age requirements or scheduling conflicts. It is our role as the adults in their lives and as people of faith to continue this message to ALL our children.
I would like nothing more than to think our kids have it all figured out, but we cannot say that about ourselves, so why would we expect that of a child. Many of our children do well and at least try most of the time, but there are other times when they, too, fall short of the mark. Folks, let's join together and help them along in this process of learning how to be God's people in a world that values something else.
Bullying in youth today has reached epidemic proportions. Our schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims, according to the National School Safety Center. What is more likely a reality is that sometimes they are the bully and sometimes they are the victim. Understanding victimization means understanding that being the victim does not preclude you from being a perpetrator if the opportunity arrives. Definitions of bullying covers the physical, verbal, indirect and cyber…it can take many forms.
What I witness from our own kids is more of the verbal, cyber and indirect forms of bullying. I see, firsthand, our own youth doing these things to one another and it hurts my heart. I see them teasing and having fun, but sometimes I see it go too far and the sting these words cause is visible–the pain is apparent on the face of the victim and in the change of mood. I know this pain firsthand, we all do. We want so much more from our kids than what we knew as children, but the rules of being a child are still the same…do whatever it takes to be top-dog. These are the same rules of our society, of the working world, of sports, etc.
Shouldn't the church be different? Shouldn't we, God's people, operate from a different model? Are we not called to be the hands, feet and heart of God in this hurting world? If we answer these questions with a resounding YES, then we've got to work together to teach these kids to act differently. We've got to make our voices rise louder than the voices of society. We have got to make sure they listen when we say NOT HERE, NOT IN GOD'S HO– USE!
I need help. I need for the entire church to look at our children and really see them and what they are doing to one another. We need for others to look at them and let them know when their actions are unacceptable, not only when they misbehave in church, but when they mistreat one another. We need to teach them a better way to live and act in the world and we need to let them know that we care about what they do and who they are in this world. This is especially hard for me to see because oftentimes I see this towards my own child, and I am called to be the youth minister to the very kid who bullies my child. Sometimes it is more than I can bear and all that I can do to be loving to the kid who won't love my girl.
When Jesus called Zacchaeus out of that tree, transformation occurred. The hated man who cheated his neighbors out of greed became humble and generous. He gave back what he took and then some and he vowed to live differently. He became a follower of Christ. It has always taken a village to raise a child, but today I think that village has to become vigilant! There are too many other things our children listen to these days and they are missing out on some of life's most important lessons. Please step up and be an example of reconciliation for our children today…not just the ones you are related to, but all those who cross your path…at church and in the world. If you won't, who will?
Blessings,
Tracy