Danger Ahead

            In last week’s article, I spoke about the mindset of “victimization” that many in today’s culture deal with.  If we turn on the news or read the latest print media, we quickly see many in our society who are frustrated and afraid. In the past, the main concerns that parents had for their children were protecting them from various childhood diseases like measles or polio.  Today, we have an epidemic of children visiting therapists or being medicated because they are bullied by someone on Facebook. I am not attempting to pass judgment on the value of therapists, medication, and the like.  I simply ask the question: How did we get to this point?  

            In a recent British newspaper, the statement was made that this generation would be best described as “Generation Wimp.”  Both adults and children seem to collapse when difficulties or challenges come their way.  Have we set the expectation level of life so low that we give people a blue ribbon just for showing up?  It is not uncommon for children’s athletic groups to throw out “keeping score.”  The rationale given is that we do not want Johnny or Suzie to have to lose.  The result is that we have a generation of “super positive” individuals who get paralyzed whenever the least bit of darkness or difficulty enters their lives.  The fact of the matter is that as people attempt to wrap themselves in a cocoon of safety and praise, they lose sight of what this world is really like.  Life is great when we get to celebrate and feel good, but reality reminds us that days of sunshine also require rainy days.

            We are seeing more and more commercials for children to go out and exercise.  All-Pro athletes tell kids to go out and play for an hour each day.  While much of this world’s population struggles to live, eat, and survive each day, we are being reminded that we need to get out and do something.  Perhaps many have lost a reason to live.  Many people desperately search for some real, tangible meaning in life.  While I’m not a “doom and gloom” person, I do realize that difficulties in life happen frequently.  Death visits everyone.  It is with these challenges in mind that we need to grow up and get strong.  Satan has seduced much of our world with the promise that we can avoid pain, risk, and loss.  This is obviously not true, and we need a foundation that will not crumble when the earthquakes of life rumble.   Only God can provide such a foundation. 

            When Jesus came to this worried world, He said, “Take my yoke and follow me.”  Jesus told the hurting and the helpless, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The truth is that when we follow Jesus, we have the power and strength to change from victims to victors.  This power is not found in any of us, rather it is found in God.  God made this world.  God has the ability to sustain us and protect us when the hurricanes of life threaten to blow us away.  So, while there is danger all around us, how will we react?  I believe that we can show “Generation Wimp” that there is a better way.  That way is through following Jesus.  Keep looking up!