Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him (Deut 30:19-20)

So what gives us life today? It’s about ignoring what advertisers might say, tuning out the background noise and paring it all back. We complicate life. It’s simple…but hard to do. Acknowledge that all we have and all we are is a gift from God. Following the example of Jesus, love without reserve and thus treat myself and others with dignity and respect.
How might young people be guided on this path? Ideally, they will be guided by their family but educators have a role to play. There are a few parts to this journey and the order may vary. Our stories are so varied. There is no one way. We may want a simple life but we learn it doesn’t work that way. The pain and suffering that one person endures can be a story to inspire others. Young people need to learn about giving and receiving love, which some learn early, others later. Another part is building a relationship with God through prayer and reflection. A third factor is being part of a Christian community who give us a place to give of our gifts and benefit from others’ gifts.

Have a great week!

Patrick