5 Myths About High School

Someone sent me a link to this blog post by a guy named Brant on Air1 and I loved it.  I copied it below, but if you want to see the actual blog post it's here: http://www.air1.com/blog/brant/post/2011/08/22/5-Off-the-Top-of-My-Head-Myths-about-High-School-that-People-Believe.aspx

1.  Bad grades in high school will ruin my life.
No, they won't. 

I know I'm not supposed to say this.  But you'll live, and maybe even a fully functional life.  Take it from me, a guy with ze perfect French accent... who failed French class.
God did not abandon me. Remarkably, I still make a living. Check THIS OUT: I have a garage door that I can open WITH A REMOTE CONTROL. That, my friends, is pretty awesome.
 
And you know what? If you don't get into the college of your dreams, your life will not be ruined.  If you don't even get into college, your life will not be ruined.  Your life, in fact, cannot be ruined by grades.  It's NO excuse for not being disciplined, but it's true.  The weird thing is that, even in "good, Christian families", this sounds like a subversive thing to say, so brace yourself:  "Success" really isn't the highest good.
"But what if I don't get into an elite college, and I don't get an amazing job making millions, and then I don't get to retire rich, and then I don't get to be old and wealthy, and then I can't die without a lot of money, and..."

Well, you got me there.  


2.  These people are my friends for LIFE!
No, they're not.  

They may not even be your best friends next year.  Yes, they are wonderful, and yes, it's great to have BFF's.  But the second "F" -- the "forever" part...?  It's not a lock.  Most people stay in touch with one or two people from high school, tops.  All the people around you are important, but they will not be constants in your life.  Chances are, you haven't met your true BFF's yet.  And that's not a horrible thing.

Knowing this can be a wonderful thing, when you feel like you're not at the top of whatever social heap everyone else is worried about.  It simply doesn't last.

3.  Everyone's looking at me all the time.
No, they're not.  Everyone's too busy thinking this about themselves to spend time studying you.  Seriously.  They've done research on  this.

It's called the "imaginary audience".  High school students, in particular, tend to way over-estimate the attention they're getting.  Fact is, even the "together" people are super self-conscious, and that means someone who *isn't* -- someone who's freed up to care about others -- can have an impact like an earthquake.

4.  Whatever social group I'm in now -- that's just who I am.
Nope.  It just doesn't work out that way.  This is why high school reunions and old yearbooks are so fascinating...and hilarious.

People can change.  And they do.  A lot.  Who you identify yourself as, now, does not lock you into a certain identity forever.  And it's a good thing, or a lot of people my age would still be wearing flannel-on-flannel and refusing to shower while listening strictly to Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

Everyone.  Will.  Change. 

5.   My teachers/parents just don't understand.
Don't flatter yourself.  Seriously.  For all the marketing of "teenager"-hood, the concept of "teenager" has been around less than a hundred years.  You're not in a mysterious, magical soap opera that adults just can't possibly understand.  It's not a sudden period of life that's simply distinct from all others.   

This is why, in fact, your parents are bothersome: It's not that they don't understand the importance of your life, your decisions...it's that they DO.  They can still relate to the issues, the temptations, the desire to run away from problems, etc.  So they won't just leave you alone. 

It's high-stakes, and they know it.  When you were three years old, your foolishness might mean a thrown toy.  Now, like an adult, your foolishness can mean years of sad regret.  Acting on your own, as a free agent, now or when you're an adult -- is a recipe for serious hurt.  The wise listen to counsel.

Mom, or Dad, or caring whoever -- they know this.  That's why they don't just shut up and "live their own lives".  And why you shouldn't, either.

First Days of School 2013-2014

This is an official hello to all my new freshies at LW! I'm really bummed that I don't get to be with you for the first few days of school. The good news is that you get a much more interesting and more attractive teacher in my wife for Thursday and Friday!

 I'm actually really excited to be out here in Seattle. Beth, my hot and really thoughtful wife,

surprised me with this trip for my birthday back in March. I'm at a workshop with an author named Dan Allender. We're going to explore the stories of our lives and look at what kind of story and what kind of themes God has written into our lives. We're zeroing in on difficult times, times of doubt, hurt, and struggle to see what God has written on our hearts through those times. We're actually going to be writing some of these stories as well.

 So, sorry I missed you, but I'll see you next Monday.

 I know that starting high school for most is a pretty nervous experience. So, I want you to turn to your dear Friend and remember that He walks beside you in these new, unfamiliar hallways, into classrooms that you are sitting in for the first time, and into lunch rooms as you try to find someone to sit with. I truly believe God is writing a story in your life too and that being at LW is part of a new chapter. Hang onto Him as He holds onto you. Good things are ahead.

Jesus didn't think He was awesome

So we're on vacation with my parents and my brother's family in Holden Beach, North Carolina.  It's so amazing down here!  This morning Beth and I went for a walk before our girls got up.  As we were walking a security guard car came driving down the road.  He stopped by us, rolled his window down and said, jokingly in his southern accent, "You're not walking fast enough."

His name was Oscar.  We then had a fun conversation through the passenger window about kids.  He asked about what my wife was having.  We said we didn't know.  He said, "It doesn't matter.  Jesus knows and He'll take care of that little one."  We found out he and his wife raised nine kids, all girls!

We talked some more and off he went.  We were touched by this stranger's politeness, sweetness, humor, and faith.

Jesus didn't think He was awesome.

Did it ever bother you when you read a story about Jesus doing some sweet miracle and then He tells people not to say anything about it?  What's up with that?

Even when He has that monumental conversation about "Who do you think I am?" He does it with his twelve buddies, not the public.

Jesus and Oscar have something in common and it's so different from the way I feel I was taught to share Christ.  I've always thought that the way to get people to Christ is to live such an awesome life that people will get so freakin' jealous that they'll want it too.

So, the more you don't swear, the more sweet you are, the less you drink, the nicer music you listen to then people will be banging on your door to find out more!!!

Maybe Jesus and Oscar have a better idea.  Instead of trying to show off how good they are, they decided to just love people.  In fact, Oscar smoked (oh no!), but that didn't alter the generous love we felt from him.  Shortly after he drove away from us he stopped and chatted with someone else along the road.  This guy didn't have an agenda.  He was just reaching out to people and seemed to enjoy it!

I write this to myself.  When people come to our house I often find myself trying to show off what a great family we are.  What's up with that?  I do think we're a great family, no doubt, but I want to instead be focused on our guests.  How can I make them feel welcome?  How can I encourage them? What questions can I ask them to give them a chance to talk about what's on their minds?

Oh, to be like Jesus and Oscar.

Freshman Question

Thinking about school? Yeah, me too. Trying not to think about school? Yeah, me too.

 Who has it harder? Student or teacher? I'd say student, especially you freshmen.

 Every stage of life has challenging questions. I'm in my late 30s. I'm trying to figure out how to do things I really want to do and value and also give my heart fully to my most meaningful relationships with my wife and my four little girlies.

When I was in my 20s I was trying to learn how to make a career work. I also was learning how to make my connection with my Abba (God) and my new wife grow even though life was becoming more routine.

 In college I was just trying to figure out what I wanted my life to look like in terms of relationships, spiritual life, jobs, friendships, and so on.

And then there's high school. To me that's when I was trying to work out what Kurt Maechner was all about. What am I good at? What am I into? Who are the people I want to hang out with? What makes me different from everyone else? Do I fit in with other people?

 It's funny, though, because the questions I just wrote about high school, are really the same questions I've asked myself through all the other stages of my life too. Of course, there are other life adjustments that come into play. But fundamentally every person on the planet is asking, "who am I?"
In high school you just don't have as many other things to cloud you from that question.

The challenge of high school is that, for most, it is the first time you have ever faced that question. Previously, the question never seemed to come up, or if it did, it was easily defined by your family. 

Something about high school puts you on your own. Your family has, and will continue to, play a huge influence on your life. Now, though, begins the real chance to make your own choices.

 And, guess what? God is not standing over you with a whip, waiting for you to screw up. He is cheering you on, running alongside you. You can look at this time and fear it, but that will either leave you a hollow person who does the 'right' things because you're afraid of what might happen if you didn't. Or you will be just as hollow because you ran from responsibility and ended up paying for it.

Instead, open your heart to the adventure that The Lord has for you. It is time to open your heart and say, "Sweet Abba, teach me. Walk with me through of all of this and keep my eyes wide with wonder as I look for You and as I look for me."

Jesus didn't respect church

Have you seen that sign?  At the end of the second floor hallway at Lutheran West, taped to a window, is a simple piece of paper with the words “Jesus Loves You” printed on it.  I have no idea who put it there.  When it went up about a year ago I thought to myself, “That’s cool.”  It wasn’t an advertisement or anything.  It was just a cool reminder of Jesus’ love. 

But then it never came down. 

I was just up at LW yesterday.  Like every summer, they clean, wax, and repaint nearly everything.  Yet, no one took that sign down.  I don’t know about you, but after about a month of passing it every day, my thoughts about the sign went from, “That’s cool” to “Are they going to leave it up all year?”  Apparently.  It had lost its significance I think. 

So, why won’t anyone take it down?

I think it’s because we all have a tendency toward being superstitious.  No one wants to be the one to remove the Jesus sign.  Ever walk through a church sanctuary all alone and get a little spooked?  Have you noticed that people get a bit jumpy if you drop a Bible on the floor?  These are all sacred things, right?

Jesus didn’t respect…church.

If there’s one object that people think is sacred and holy it is a church building, especially the front.  As a kid, my wife thought God lived there!  I mean, the pastor in some churches even turns to face the altar (sounds a little pagan, doesn’t it?) when talking to God. 

So, if God sends His Son to teach, heal, and reach out to people, you’d think He would do a lot of it in church buildings (synagogues in His case).  Yet, there are very few cases where He did that.  Almost every recorded act of note Jesus did in very unsacred places: boats, cities, roads, houses, dinner parties, weddings, hillsides, gardens, and near lakes. 

So, if church buildings and faded “Jesus Loves You” signs aren’t sacred, what is? 

You want to know what sacred?

You are.

You want to know what is special?

You are.

You want to know what is holy?

The person in the next room.

You want to know what is divine?

The person who will sit next to you in math class this fall.

Where is the Kingdom of God?

Jesus said it is within you.  You carry it around.  That’s why we should give honor, respect, and love to people, not buildings and statues.  Because, ultimately, the real “Jesus Loves You” sign should be…you.