Another day of thought...

After another day of contemplation over the work I do, I keep thinking how in the world am I going to teach my own kids that there is something way more than the lure of the world that sucks so many teenagers in. And I think that is it: the way we get through to the girls here is the simple fact that there is way more out there than everything they have fallen into. There are ways of dealing with pain that don’t cause more pain. The drugs and alcohol and sex leave them feeling only emptier because it can’t fill the void they are so desperately trying to fill. I firmly believe that void is only filled by God and that is why Trinity is so successful; because we can show the girls faith as an answer to all they are searching for. They are also taught here a way to empower themselves through their own successes and lessons learned and ultimately gain a respect for themselves that will win a battle against any temptation they come in contact with. Never ever will “teenagers” (of any age really) decide not to do something just because someone told them it was bad. It has to be clearly defined as not only “this is why it is harmful” but also “this is something that is so much better.”

Take sex, for example. It is not bad in the least. In fact it is one of the most beautiful gifts Christ as given us…when it is used in marriage as a way to bond a husband and a wife and bring them closer as one and closer to their Creator. However, when we pervert what was intended to be so right, we get a lot of broken people. Sex was intended as a way to give of oneself to another person completely. Society teaches exactly the opposite. In our broken world, sex is used for one’s own pleasure and when that happens, the breakdown begins. For example, pornography is used by men (and women) for personal sexual gratification. It portrays women (or men) as objects and therefore suddenly men (and women) look upon the opposite sex as simply objects for their own pleasure. Eventually, the question is being asked in the subliminal mind, “Why is it so wrong to use women (or men) in real life for your own pleasure?” It is a blurry line that is easy to cross whether we are talking about a loving relationship (even in marriage if sex is being used as a way to GET something instead of GIVE something) or rape. I know for absolute certainty that at least women know when they are being used and it causes extreme internal turmoil. I can make a safe bet that men deal with the same thing, and that everyone feels it to one extent or another, even if it takes years to admit it. I am not saying that everyone who looks at pornography or has sex outside of marriage or messes around is a bad person. All I am saying is that they are cheating themselves out of so much more that comes from an ultimate respect for themselves and for their future spouse through a life of chastity free of guilt and that nagging voice of reason that we all try to shut out but someway gets through eventually.

The greatest disservice our society does is fail to teach there is such a thing as self-respect and self-control. Instead we are told that we can’t stop help ourselves anyway, so why not just give into the temptation? I pray for a change of heart that starts with a few people and spreads throughout.