Sleepless in Munday

I woke up very early this morning…which I do, probably too often. There seems to be no rhyme or reason why. But, out of a sound sleep…WHAM! I’m wide awake. This morning I didn’t even try to drift back to sleep. I just got up, made the coffee and read the ‘purposeful’ devotional for today…”What Makes God Smile?” (The Purpose Driven Life…Rick Warren) I will go back later this morning and read it again…for more focus. When I arise early, my thoughts are like one of those “sparklers” that you burn on the 4th of July….sparks flying in all directions, sputtering and spewing.

One thing that is on my mind is distressing rumors of youthful activities following end-of-school events. Only I fear that they’re not rumors. There is too much evidence that make the ‘rumors’ valid. We are continually hearing reports, nation-wide, of our declining teen-age generation…. reasons being….the influence of Hollywood, T.V. programming, advertisements, etc, etc.

A couple of days ago, I ran across this little article on “The Patriot Post” concerning this same subject:

FAMILY
"Before we point the finger at Hollywood, the government, or the business community for what is happening to America's youth, we must look at ourselves. I've worked on family public policy issues for 20 years, and I know the solutions to these problems do not rest in Washington, DC. Most of the solutions can be found in active, loving parenting. It doesn't take an act of Congress to take back your home... [A] 13-year-old boy [doesn't] have 60 bucks to buy a video game unless his daddy gave it to him. Eleven-year-old girls can't drive themselves to the mall, nor do they have the cash to buy trashy clothes that make them look like street walkers. And who pays for the cable television, orders the Internet connection and buys CDs for Christmas presents? Well-meaning moms and dads who are too busy or too absorbed with their own lives to see that their kids need them to push back against the toxic culture, not invite and pay for it to invade their homes. Many parents are more concerned about being their children's friend than they are about parenting. But kids don't need more drifting friends; they need their moms and dads. Our children are feeling around for boundaries, for a firm foundation on which they can build their lives, for love and nurture." —Rebecca Hagelin

Re-read Rebecca Hagelin’s last sentence again. “Our children are feeling around for boundaries, for a firm foundation on which they can build their lives, for love and nurture.” Where are they going to find the firm foundation if not in a personal relationship with their Creator? I ask myself, “How can God use me to direct our youth to the reason for their existence?” I’m waiting for the answer.