Empower With a Mission

When was the last time you met anyone who spends their days sitting in front of a TV screen, and thought, "Wow, that is one happy person!"  Yet sadly, many of today's youth we find hidden behind glaring screens, madly pecking and swiping at their phones, and tuning out the world with buds in their ears and controllers in their hands.  It's easy to blame our overindulgent American culture on Hollywood or the addictive nature of video games.  The real problem though is obvious and distressing - the adults are checking out.  We have allowed ourselves to become too busy, distracted, and irresponsible in the things that matter most.  Thousands around the world have purchased an electronic babysitter to entertain and raise their children.  As a result we are raising up a generation of young people who perceive that there are no great needs beyond updating electronic devices to the latest versions.  Even if needs are noticed, few teenagers truly believe there is really anything they can do to better the world other than offer a few dollars to a beggar, or altruistically accept a friend request from a social outcast.   

I believe the solution is to empower our young people with an ethic of service.  Real dirty, difficult, heart-wrenching and heart-warming service.  When a teenager learns that there is a real need in the world and that they have the ability to meet those needs, purpose and meaning is restored.  When I worked with Outward Bound Omaha, I co-led a two-week Youth Service Leadership Project.  The 13 youth from all over the US slowly arrived at our base to pack for out trip.  One by one they arrived, sat down, and pulled out their electronic devices to pass the time.  We eventually had them turn over their electronics and fill out a pre-course evaluation.  On these evaluations they were told to rate on a scale of 1-10 how deep was the sense of purpose and meaning their lives held.  The numbers were distressing:  consistently the numbers were marked with a 2 or 3.  Then we set out.  They learned to navigate a river in canoes, scale a rock wall, and most importantly to see a real need and do something about it.  We took them to food banks in the slums to see how many low-income families struggle to put nutritious food on the tables in their homes.  Then we took them to several community gardens and local farms who were working to provide fresh vegetables to those in poverty.  These 13 students spent time in the fields learning to harvest corn and green beans.  Next they had the opportunity to deliver the goods to food banks and assist with distribution.  On our post-course evaluations students were asked to again rate their personal sense of purpose and meaning.  In just two weeks their numbers had skyrocketed to 8's and 9's!

For a person to discover, develop, and use their abilities to serve the world it takes intentional, consistent, compassionate, and empowering mentorship.  Let's lay aside our distractions and play this role in lives of our youth today.  They may not respond immediately and that's where the next step is crucial... NEVER GIVE UP.   More on this final principle later.