Several years ago, I heard a story about a
boy who was shot and killed over a pair of shoes. The boy was shot right outside the house of a
girl who was a part of the youth group I was leading. The death shook the community, and it struck
me because it was so senseless. How
could something so dreadful happen for such an irrational purpose? Unfortunately, I realize that most of the
terrible acts that are committed are done for rather absurd reasons. Very few criminals are part of organized crime
rings, or have spent any time thinking ahead at all. Instead a person makes a choice that seems to
feel right in the moment…
 |
| Teens learning new was of looking at the world! |
I thought of this story when I read an
article entitled Therapy Helps Troubled
Teens Rethink Crime, by Shankar Vedantam.
Affected teens in this study were simply shown how powerful their words
could be. For most of these kids, violence
was the only way they had ever solved problems.
By opening the eyes of these teens to new tools and ways of looking at
the world, researchers found they were 44% less likely to commit a crime. However, if they didn’t continue to receive therapy
or continued guidance they reverted back to their old habits within a
year.
This month we are looking at Epiphanies, or
moments of awakening in the church. I
think we all need to believe there are skills and tools available to help us
grow. Today I wonder what you can do to
sharpen your skills and open your eyes?
Perhaps we can take a little extra time for reflection, or maybe we can
talk with a friend or counselor. Growth
is important for us all. I hope we can
all take time to grow this season!
Blessings!
Brian
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