Religion makes a difference in the life of our youth…  or does it?

ime for a pop quiz.  It’s only four questions, but it might take you lifetime (and then some) to finish it. Ready? Here we go…

Why am I here?

What is the meaning of life?

Why is there evil and suffering in the world?

How do I find true Freedom and Peace?

Got all the answers? If so, congratulations. You’ve answered questions people have struggled with for as long as we’ve been here on earth.

Still have a few doubts? Join the club!

Life can be a lot of fun. But when all the fun has quieted down and all the diversions get old, we still face those same basic questions about the meaning of life. And that’s where religion can help.

 

Look at the heart.

Religion can serve as a road map for the interior journey. All the great traditions speak about the inward journey and offer suggestions on how to get there: meditation, contemplative prayer, stillness, chanting, to name a few. The world religions are filled with examples of women and men who have made great progress in the interior life, and they can show the rest of us the way.
Why is the interior life important? Because without some depth, we can’t grow any roots. If you don’t spend time getting to know who you are and what you believe in, you can be swept away by whatever wind happens to be blowing by.

Maybe you feel kinda rootless right now. That’s understandable, given our fast paced, always moving way of life. The inward journey is a chance to slow down, quiet down, and tune in – to yourself and to the awesome Mystery behind all of creation.

 

Look around you.

Religion can help you see a bigger world, and help you find your place in that world. All of us tend to get wrapped up in our own little worlds – school, job, and relationships. There is nothing wrong with these things, but sometimes we miss out on the needs of others when we are so focused on our own needs and wishes.

Religion encourages us to reach out to others, to lend a helping hand, to experience the satisfaction that comes from creating a better world. Volunteering in poorer areas, overseas mission service can really change your perspective on what’s important in life.

 

Look at your questions & doubts.

Tony used to like going to church services, but lately he has been confused and frustrated. He rarely hears anything he can relate to during the sermon. And recently, he has been learning in history class that wars have been fought and people have been persecuted all in the name of religion. That doesn’t make much sense to Tony, and now he wonders if this is something he wants to commit himself to.

A Disciple's Prayer

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think that I am following your will
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
Does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
Though I may seem to be lost and in trouble.
I will not fear,
For you are ever with me,
And you will never leave me to face perils alone.
Amen.

– Thomas Merton –

If you’re feeling out of touch with your faith tradition, talk it over with a member of your community (church, campus, or…). You may be surprised that adults also struggle with the imperfect way religion is practiced in the world.

At the same time, you may come to realize that imperfection is part of the human condition. There is no perfect institution on earth – church, state, school, business, team, or otherwise. That’s because human beings have a way of, well, kinda messing things up! But just because a religious tradition isn’t perfect doesn’t mean you can’t find real value in it.

If you are willing to look a little closer, beneath all the messy imperfection, you will find some really inspiriting examples of human love and courage and generosity. You can learn a great deal about what it means to be a better human being from this imperfect thing called religion.

Look on the upside.

Though she won’t admit it to anyone but her closest friend, Jennifer sometimes likes going to church. She tells people she only goes because her parents make her go. But there are times when she actually finds some comfort in religious rituals. And she says she finds it really helpful to pray when she’s confused. 

Phyllis has recently found a reason to reconnect with her Jewish tradition. When she was 16, she was messed up, and into some really stupid stuff” like heavy drinking. Finally, she got into a rehab program, which had a strong spiritual component. Now she knows that drinking is not an option for her if she wants to live a long and full live. She finds that praying with her family at synagogue has brought them a lot closer together.

And then there’s Randy. “I don’t go to church every Sunday, but I try to go whenever I can. I guess it’s because some of my friends are there, and it feels good to have a place where I know I belong.” On a recent retreat with the youth group from his church, Randy really appreciated the time away from school, sports, job, and family pressures. He was able to think about things, listen to what others are going through, and just relax for a while.

Looking Ahead !

Religion is something you have to make your own call on. You might find there are times when attending services doesn’t feel right. But that doesn’t mean that faith and prayer and quiet time can’t still be a part of your life. And eventually, you may find that being connected to a faith community is one of the greatest sources of comfort, support, and happiness you can plug into.

– written by Daniel Grippo & Ruth Hasser –