Crazy Schedules

I have the great priveledge of working with some of Jackson County's greatest youth. They are not afraid to work and have taken on every challenge we've thrown at them this past year. From planning their own leadership retreat, meeting with their representatives in D.C., or even helping to write a grant they have shown themselves more than able to take care of business. One thing I've noticed though is how busy many of our youth are outside of the LAUNCH program. In fact most of the youth I know are involved in so much that they often find themselves having to choose between the things they are involved in because of conflicts in schedules. I mean there are just so many hours in a day and days in a week. I know I'm one to talk because I don't know the meaning the word overscheduled.

We live in a day when 3rd graders travel to multiple states competing in soccer, softball, football, and the like. What happened to just getting together and having a little fun in the back yard? Where did we get the idea that 4th grade boys playing football need a Superbowl championship? Or the 5th grade soccer player who plays in 3 leagues at the same time. I can understand kids wanting to be involved in all this. What kid wouldn't want those kind of bragging rights and the opportunity to go to so many places and meet all the other kids from the other leagues? What I don't get is the parent who complains about all the running they have to do when they could help themselves out by only letting their kids play one sport and in one league at a time. Or do I have it backwards? Are the kids involved in so much because the parents push them to be?

I worry about some of the youth I work with who have so much on their plate. I sometimes wonder how many of them would be doing ten times better in school if they weren't in 3 sports and 4 clubs. Isn't this one of those situations where less really is more?

As a Christian I have to wonder what God has to say about all the running around we do. In the grand scheme of things how does what we do show the rest of the world just how awesome and loving our God is? I've been picking on youth sports but this is a valid issue to address in the church as well. Is what we are doing just one more program, one more thing to add to the list of stuff our church does or does it show people who don't already know Jesus just how great knowing Him can be. To paraphrase a speaker at a somewhat recent workshop: So what if your Easter program is the biggest and most impressive in the state? How many new people have become regular attenders or have come to know Christ? If the answer to that question isn't as impressive as the show you put on then you should question if your time, money and effort wouldn't have been better spent on something smaller and more personal.

I guess those are some of my thoughts What do you think?

What do you think about the crazy schedules we keep? Feel free to share a verse that helps you find peace in the midst of this high speed chase we have with life.