Twenty years ago …

By Steven Polley

Director, Office of Youth Ministry

Recently, something triggered in my memory some words of encouragement that I used in my early years in diocesan ministry. As with many things, you look back over your life and realize that this short but powerful phrase carries more weight in your own life than you would ever realize.

Quite often as I worked with young people, I would tell them that the decisions they are making today will help determine the kind of person they will be 15 or 20 years from now.

Oh, how true; as I think back, decisions I made in high school, college and yes, that first year of teaching in 1978, have helped determine who I am today. And for myself, this continues to be true. And so, it remains equally true for each of our youth.

As I write this column, I am drawn to two songs that have caught my attention over the past month. The first is by Christian artist, Twila Paris, “The Time Is Now”, and the second is an oldie by Kenny Rogers, “Twenty Years Ago”. In the song by Kenny Rogers, the lyrics simply say, “Life was so much easier, twenty years ago”.

As I think about this, I realize that there is a lot of truth to these words. All of the modern technology that has been designed to give us more time, seems to only occupy more and more of our time, leaving us with less time to recognize God’s presence in all of the little things. Remember how beautiful life can be when we take the time to slow down and truly look at and experience all of God’s creation. And we are continually reminded of the words of Jesus, “Unless you become like little children....” Through the eyes of child, we see more of the beauty in life, not just the necessities. To this extent, life was easier 20 years ago.

Now I would not want to go back and relive these years, as I am perfectly happy with how they turned out and where life has led me. But I am thankful for the decisions I made, as they have helped determine who I am today. So as we continue to minister to the youth, we must focus on the current moment.

In Twila Paris’s song, “The Time Is Now”, the chorus shares these words: “The time is now to hear the call, from the Father of creation comes an answer for us all. The time is here, the time for you. If you seek then, you will find Him, and the moment that you do, seal your heart with a sacred vow. The time is now.”

I believe that the timing is right for this column. We are approaching the time of year when many life changing decisions are being made by our young people: graduations, career choices, even the vision of moving up to the next grade level. Our youth are at the time of the year where major decisions are being made.

Can we in some way remind them and help them know that these decisions will help determine the type of person they will become in future years?

Can we continue to help them realize that each moment of each day is the time to recognize God’s presence in that moment? How can we help them turn to God in all things, and to not only listen for, but to hear God’s call?

Life may have been easier 20 years ago, but for each of us now, we can help change the lives of each of our youth, helping them become stronger members of the Body of Christ 20 years from now.