Speed, convenience, entertainment, nurture and entitlement are the focus of our young people ... and many reading this post!Microwaves seem slow. Everything seems to be available anytime and anywhere. We entertain and love being entertained. We coddle ourselves and our kids, and we are convinced we deserve nothing but the best.And while "every good and perfect gift comes from above ... ," sinful man is able to turn these gifts into harmful things for ourselves and for our kids. While it may seem odd that nurturing can turn bad, an overly nurtured child (can you say "overprotected"?) may be one of many reasons that young people today are just a bit too into themselves.We enjoyed having Tim Elmore here in Fort Wayne over the past few days. His knowledge and experience are a great blessing, and I am pleased that hundreds attended Tim's presentations for teachers, staff, and the community.
Tim's message was sobering: kids today are not being prepared for adulthood. Business leaders and many others are turning to Tim for help in understanding this new generation of young people. Even professional baseball teams and college basketball teams are using Tim's knowledge to help the upcoming generation of players, coaches, and supporters.I hope you dig in a bit deeper to Tim's information. From his books and from his website, you'll find plenty of information that will challenge the way you think about parenting, teaching, and relationships.However, let me pose two thoughts for The Lutheran Schools Partnership that Tim's presentations have moved me to consider: How do we as the members of The Lutheran Schools work together to buck the culture? We as Christians know we should prepare our kids not just for adulthood, but also for life eternal. What opportunities can we provide to support the challenges kids (and parents) face?
Are our schools encouraging healthy risk-taking by students, teachers, and leaders? How do we demonstrate a trust in Jesus that moves us to unique, dynamic teaching and learning? When so much of the education establishment is limiting creativity and risk-taking, how do we use the freedom that is ours through Christ to live out something different?Let the conversations begin! And please feel free to share your thoughts with me.
Are our schools encouraging healthy risk-taking by students, teachers, and leaders? How do we demonstrate a trust in Jesus that moves us to unique, dynamic teaching and learning? When so much of the education establishment is limiting creativity and risk-taking, how do we use the freedom that is ours through Christ to live out something different?Let the conversations begin! And please feel free to share your thoughts with me.
