rebelling against low expectations
When COVID-19 struck and forced everyone to be quarantined in their homes, I, like most young people undoubtedly, began to panic and grow anxious about what I was going to do about school, extracurricular activities, and much more. I couldn’t do the activities I wanted to do out of fear of what could happen. But more than just hindering my daily activities, I also let my fear stop me from seeking...
I want a time machine. To go see the future so I can plan accordingly. To go back to the past so I can know what I don’t know already. Mainly, to never be blind-sided by the difficult or the easy moments of life. Right now, I feel blind. I have been reading Jeremiah and was struck by the same blindness in the lives of the Israelites. They are blind to the power of their God and instead turn to...
When will it all end? It’s a question I have been asking myself in the midst of the craziness of the year 2020. I remember reading posts on Facebook at the beginning of this year about the wildfires and the loss of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, lamenting and asking “Could it get any worse?” Looking back on those posts now, they were a far cry from what came next. I remember during the...
Have you ever been involved in an intense discussion? Perhaps it was with your siblings or your parents or with a friend. I’m not talking about an excited conversation, such as you might have about whether or not Lebron James is a better basketball player than Michael Jordan or whether or not Minnesota is a more beautiful state than Michigan. Those conversations might sound intense–people...
I am grieving for my people and my church. The world feels turned upside down. I imagine, for our generation, just saying the word “2020” will become synonymous with anger and bitter fighting. “It’s 2020 all over again.” Unfortunately, teenagers are stuck right in the middle of it. No doubt, over the past year you’ve sat through countless discussions about COVID-19 or the economic shutdowns or...
Deep sigh. I don’t know how to start this article–I’ve been procrastinating finishing it for weeks (and now it has turned into a series)! I was going to name and address some of the disagreements our country (for us Americans at least) and church are dealing with head on. I was going to talk about how divided we are and what we can do to navigate the sharp fights we’ve been having. I was...
“The Lord your God is in your midst.” – Zephaniah 3:17 2020 sucks, yes? Like Britta Perry of Community or Toby Flenderson of The Office, 2020 is the worst. But it’s not. In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, national reckoning about systemic racism, economic upheaval, and a looming presidential election rife with discord, good stuff exists. I’ll start. In February, my...
My mom and I were at Fred Myer buying seeds for our garden. We both had masks on—and I was also wearing my sunglasses (for some reason, I had forgotten to take them off as we were entering the store). Now for some time, it had been my usual routine to verbally vent to those around me (usually my mom) about how my mask kept me from vital access to oxygen. “I can’t breathe!” I would exclaim...
2020 has been a terrible year. We’re only halfway through it, and I’ve already seen several articles, videos, and online forums label 2020 as “the worst year” of this century, of their lives, and even of all time. (Just Google “2020 is the worst year,” and you’ll see what I mean.) Based on what has already happened so far, I can see why. 2020 Unmasked This year boasts a...
Teens filter into youth group, smiling and waving at their friends. But no one talks. No Christian rock blasts in the background. No snacks are passed around. It’s difficult to have normalcy when youth group is through a screen. Online youth group is quite the experience, but it means the world to me to talk with my small group, learn about Jesus, and pray together. I never realized how important...
rebelling against low expectations
