I have had the blessings to experience a lot of firsts in the past few years. I guess if you look at it everything is a first because today wasn't like yesterday or won't be like tomorrow but that's not what I really mean. I am experiencing a lot of different things centered on the church that I am presently now attending. Being a full time youth minister instead of a fill-in. actually bringing the message on some Sundays, even in two services. A couple of times I have been left in charge of the whole service, as scary as that sounds it have been a blast. I think the only thing conventional about our services sometimes is that they are held on Sunday. I love it like that.
This past Sunday eve I got up to speak to our graduates and the topic that I was led to speak on was wisdom. Just this past Wednesday we played a game about "biblical verses,” verses that we may have heard and believed that were from the bible, but were actually attributed to other sources and while it was fresh on my mind I thought it would be the perfect subject to speak about. We all have used wisdom at one time or another and to think that the things that we follow aren't truth or even really good for us are scary if you stop to think about it. When you add in the number of high school graduates that are cast out into the world the problem becomes perilous.
Conventional wisdom holds that "God helps those who help themselves", "Spare the rod, spoil the child,” "Work hard and you will succeed,” "Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” and everyone's favorite "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” All these things sound really good for you and have been used for years to get children and others to straighten up and fly right. I have been on the receiving end of all of them at one time or another when being prompted to get it together. Having been raised by biblically literate parents they had a truthful version of scriptures to teach us and try to keep us on the right path. That I have not survived this long attests to the fact that God helped me when I was helpless, not because I could help nor have anything to do with it.
In the story of Solomon, when he was being anointed, he asked God for wisdom and knowledge to govern. It was granted to him along with wealth, possessions, and honor. If you look at the later part of Solomon's life you will find that he made a mess of it but never lost touch with the wisdom he had. Circumstance made it hard for him to follow but God’s Grace was designed to overcome his and our mistakes. We all are going to make them and the fact that God has things covered is as great a part of wisdom that we can impart to our young.
I remember just how tough it was to get out of high school, not that it was tough for everyone, just those who had problems sitting still and paying attention. If I had a dollar for every time I was told to pay attention I could have purchased a new Camaro when I graduated but the conventional wisdom of that time was that it wasn't a disorder but just a lack of inner strength. To know the difference between Godly and conventional wisdom can be learned at a young age but to follow it takes years of practice and sometimes it never takes root. It's my prayer that the young people that I have been given the opportunity to search with take it to heart before they find themselves hanging onto the end of the rope. "Hang on to the rope" is another one of those great homilies, but God would rather have us let go, and let Him, for He is able. Congratulations Graduates. Until next week. ags
