Who am I?
Where do I fit?
What difference can I make?
“3 Big Questions that Change Every Teenager” by Kara Powell and Brad Griffin is the book I am reading. 2,200 diverse teenagers were interviewed and are its basis. I can’t wait till I get to the end and have all the answers!
If it could only be that simple. If you look at me, you could guess that my teenage days did not have cell phones. We hung out at the mall, played Pac-Man, and laid in the sun slathered in baby oil while listening to Madonna and Prince on my prized boom box. Those days were long ago.
However, these three questions have continued to follow me throughout my life. In an ever-changing world, there is constant re-evaluation of my priorities and discovering who I truly am, especially during the COVID years. Fortunately, I have had years of caring adults and mentors to show me that I am enough, I will always fit in, and I can make a difference because of Jesus. They welcomed me into God’s life-changing story. Being rooted in this knowledge has allowed me to be fearless in the face of these questions. Well,mostly unafraid. There have certainly been times I was scared and unsure of my path but those were times that I wanted to be in control.
Due to our barrage of media in all forms, our youth can get lost in these questions. We adults can get lost and confused, too. I know these questions were part of my life in those formative teenage years, but my phone was tied to a wall so my parents could listen to my every answer. I did not have the constant outside influences, and opinions that impact our lives today.
This past weekend, there were parents, grandparents and those with grown children that showed up to support our youth at the Parent/Child Youth Ministry Meeting. We were saying “Yes!” to walking along with our LOL youth in their journey of answering these questions. We aren’t biblical experts, or teaching gurus, or perfect at praying, but are willing to invest in our youth. We don’t have all the answers but are allowing the living Word of God to work in our lives to guide our youth.
There are deeper answers to these questions that continue to grow and change. However, in this season, at this moment, I can answer:
Who am I? I am an imperfect and beloved child of God.
Where do I fit? I fit in at Lord of Life.
What difference can I make? I can journey with youth as they wrestle with the big questions of life and faith.
How would you answer these questions today?
Growing in faith together,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation
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