GOLF & GOD (8): Relax! It’s Just a Game

We live in a world that has largely forgotten how to play.  When our worth and value is measured primarily by what we DO for a living and how much we ACCOMPLISH individually, then just “wasting a day” in the pure enjoyment of a fun hobby or game is really a lost art and rare occurrence.

What did you do this past weekend?  If you are the typical American you likely spent your weekend away from your professional work catching up on other private work around the house.  Or you ran around with kids, going from activity to activity.  Did you take time to stop and just play?  

God has designed the world and humanity to operate according to a bio-rhythm of 6 days of creative, productive work and then one day of “sabbath” or rest.  The sabbath is NOT a day to avoid activity period.  Rather, it is a day to pause all creative tasks and to instead involve oneself in the pure enjoyment of the blessings and joys that already exist.  

Teens and Stress

USA TODAY.com News featured a story entitled How Stressed Are Kids?  More Than We Think. I care deeply about the world today’s teens inhabit and the unique challenges they are facing.  To the best of my knowledge and from my own personal observation, the world of teenagers has been changing over the last couple decades in a disturbing direction.  

The innocence of childhood is vanishing, kids are growing up faster and earlier, dealing with issues and questions at age 12 that used to be faced at age 18. The continuing breakdown of the family with parents consumed with their own struggles leaves many teens to raise themselves and at times their younger siblings. (See Chap Clark’s book Hurt:Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers for an eye-opening, strong and heart-breaking case for the “systemic abandonment of today’s teenagers” by adults.)

Among the biggest issues hitting teens harder these days is stress level. Teens are feeling great pressure from many directions — e.g., sports, academics, theater, jobs, relationships. Much of it is imposed upon them by overbearing parents, teachers, coaches and college recruiters. But even more is self-imposed by teens who want to impress their peers, please their parents and prove themselves. 

But USA TODAY asks more specifically: What is the greatest source of stress for teens today?  I’m all ears.  I have my own opinions based on my daily interaction with teens as a youth pastor.  I think I know what weighs most heavily on their hearts and causing them greatest worry and stress. Yet, the results of the study in this article surprised me and made re-examine if I really know what’s stressing teens out most.  Moreover, the study reveals that parents are also often mistaken in their assessment of their own kids’ stressors. So, before I reveal the results of this particular study, what do you guess stresses out teens most today?

POLL: What stresses TEENS out most?

I read an article today about the things that teens today are most stressed about.  I was rather surprised by the results and wanted to take my own poll to see if it matches the results of this finding.  So, if you wouldn’t mind, please take a moment to weigh in on this poll if you are age 13-18 years old.  Thanks for your participation!  Jeremy