08-23-2007, 06:26 PM
"Show Me the Way" is the title of a song by Styk and a phrase which shows up repeatedly in the lyrics.
It never ceases to amaze me, that in each generation, we claim to not understand our youth and that they seem to be a generation without values or goals.
How blind we seem to be. If we just look at the lyrics of many of the songs which are great hits, we will see that the younger generation is a generation of searchers and seekers, just as we felt we were at their age.
The questions they ask, the answers they seek, the fears and doubts which they express, are similar or the same as those which we expressed and many of us still express to this day. The intensity and pace of life today, however, far exceeds that of the time of our youth. It is no wonder, that their intensity and drive is so hard for us to understand.
As I was growing up, it was rare to find a family with a TV -- then color TV came into being -- such a luxury item. As we had one or two books plus an Encyclopedia set we were considered a fortunate family. Other kids would come to the house just to look through the encyclopedia books. A big event was the receipt of the annual update so that we could see what was going on in the rest of the world. We were even fortunate enough to have a manual typewriter -- a rare thing for a family to possess at that time.
Oh -- How times have changed! Many consider hard back books so antiquated. Table top computers, lap top computers, fast access DSL, satellite communications, wireless communication and instant world wide communication are the basic necessities of the day. An over abundance of information at the touch of a button. A thousand answers and alternatives to every question.
Is it any wonder that our youth are singing:
"Show me the way -- Show me the way -- Take my confusion away -- If I see a light, should I believe -- Tell me how I will know -- Show me the way -- Show me the way -- Wash my illusions away."
This is a challenge to us as Unitarians and to ministers in particular. Are we prepared to meet the challenge? Are we prepared to give hard answers to hard questions? Are we prepared to discuss all the religious texts from around the world and explain why we believe what we do? Hard answers to hard questions -- are we willing to take a stand?
The youth of this world are our future! Yes -- the radical -- rebellious youth. They are asking the questions. They are searching for the answers. If we do not take them seriously and do our best to provide guidance and demonstrate our beliefs by our actions, they will seek elsewhere for the answers.
Very often it will seem as if they do not listen or take heed of any advise which we may give. They may even make fun of our words and ways. They may even say they think our views are old fashion and out of date. But, they do listen. They do try to see the logic in what they have been told or shown. They are influenced in ever so slight a way. If we do slight their concerns and avoid their questions, it is ever so hard to reestablish any form of meaningful communication.
We need to be patient. We need to address their questions in a very straight forward way. It often happens, that they will later seek us out and ask more questions and then more questions to help them on their way. What do you think? What do you believe? How would you handle this? What does this mean? Have you seen this? Have you experienced this? What would you do? Isn't there a better way? So many questions! So many possible answers!
For our Unitarian Tradition to grow and prosper and for individual churches to grow and prosper, we must address the needs and questions of the youth. This is a very important area for us to emphasize, at least in this one man's opinion.
Will you devote some of your time and talents to helping the AUC and/or your church to become a part of the solution?
Will you help to answer these questions?
What can we do to help show the way?
What can we do to help end the confusion?
What can we do to better guide the youth so that they will know?
How can we help wash the illusions away?
With Love,
Rev Dorris
It never ceases to amaze me, that in each generation, we claim to not understand our youth and that they seem to be a generation without values or goals.
How blind we seem to be. If we just look at the lyrics of many of the songs which are great hits, we will see that the younger generation is a generation of searchers and seekers, just as we felt we were at their age.
The questions they ask, the answers they seek, the fears and doubts which they express, are similar or the same as those which we expressed and many of us still express to this day. The intensity and pace of life today, however, far exceeds that of the time of our youth. It is no wonder, that their intensity and drive is so hard for us to understand.
As I was growing up, it was rare to find a family with a TV -- then color TV came into being -- such a luxury item. As we had one or two books plus an Encyclopedia set we were considered a fortunate family. Other kids would come to the house just to look through the encyclopedia books. A big event was the receipt of the annual update so that we could see what was going on in the rest of the world. We were even fortunate enough to have a manual typewriter -- a rare thing for a family to possess at that time.
Oh -- How times have changed! Many consider hard back books so antiquated. Table top computers, lap top computers, fast access DSL, satellite communications, wireless communication and instant world wide communication are the basic necessities of the day. An over abundance of information at the touch of a button. A thousand answers and alternatives to every question.
Is it any wonder that our youth are singing:
"Show me the way -- Show me the way -- Take my confusion away -- If I see a light, should I believe -- Tell me how I will know -- Show me the way -- Show me the way -- Wash my illusions away."
This is a challenge to us as Unitarians and to ministers in particular. Are we prepared to meet the challenge? Are we prepared to give hard answers to hard questions? Are we prepared to discuss all the religious texts from around the world and explain why we believe what we do? Hard answers to hard questions -- are we willing to take a stand?
The youth of this world are our future! Yes -- the radical -- rebellious youth. They are asking the questions. They are searching for the answers. If we do not take them seriously and do our best to provide guidance and demonstrate our beliefs by our actions, they will seek elsewhere for the answers.
Very often it will seem as if they do not listen or take heed of any advise which we may give. They may even make fun of our words and ways. They may even say they think our views are old fashion and out of date. But, they do listen. They do try to see the logic in what they have been told or shown. They are influenced in ever so slight a way. If we do slight their concerns and avoid their questions, it is ever so hard to reestablish any form of meaningful communication.
We need to be patient. We need to address their questions in a very straight forward way. It often happens, that they will later seek us out and ask more questions and then more questions to help them on their way. What do you think? What do you believe? How would you handle this? What does this mean? Have you seen this? Have you experienced this? What would you do? Isn't there a better way? So many questions! So many possible answers!
For our Unitarian Tradition to grow and prosper and for individual churches to grow and prosper, we must address the needs and questions of the youth. This is a very important area for us to emphasize, at least in this one man's opinion.
Will you devote some of your time and talents to helping the AUC and/or your church to become a part of the solution?
Will you help to answer these questions?
What can we do to help show the way?
What can we do to help end the confusion?
What can we do to better guide the youth so that they will know?
How can we help wash the illusions away?
With Love,
Rev Dorris