If I asked you what it was that you were passionate about, what would you say? Once you’ve answered, I want you to consider if you’d do it for free. I’m not suggesting that anyone work for free, but if you’ve truly discovered your passion then you already know that it’s not work, it’s a lot more to do with commitment. It’s usually a combination of talents, gifts, & discipline-all of which are in line with your purpose.
I found mine in an old historic building in a little country town… an old movie theatre turned into a church. I was invited one day to help with the youth program. I don’t know exactly what happened in the days leading UP to the program because I was so focused on curating activities that would be impactful and beneficial to the youth.
On the day of the program I was nearly vibrating with unbridled joy & uncontainable excitement! It felt like every cell in my body was puffed up with energy and ready to combust at any second. Turns out, this day sparked the precise moment I would find my passion AND my purpose.
Watch this video…..
If you work with youth in any capacity you already know how incredibly rewarding this field is. It’s also quite challenging for a variety of reasons, but none is more important than the purpose- the WHY. If you don’t have a strong WHY for doing what you do, you’ll quit at the first little bit of adversity. However, the time is now more than ever to listen to our youth, to spend time with them, to help guide and direct them while they navigate life. I can’t imagine growing up in the world the way it looks now, let alone doing it withOUT some of my support network.
In fact, children may not have as much of a support network as we’d LIKE to think. That’s right, they attend school and they come home. Frankly having a consistent space and source to practice, question, and implement some of the topics we taught, is KEY. Every child has a heart, a voice, and a head. It’s up to as as adults and youth leaders to recognize this, stop hushing them, and start listening to them
We must STOP as a society putting kids in a corner. We must STOP hushing them and START listening. The ability to navigate growing up and learning how to manage conflict, communicate, and interact socially, are ALL related to and impacted by our ability or inability to recognize the need for a the unique environment space for youth AND youth leaders to collaborate -both in the community and
churches.
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