The fall semester is back, and you're entering into your sophomore year of high school. We meet at our usual location, and reflect on your day. You scribble eventual answers from the key in the back of your impossibly difficult chemistry homework, and say, "I'm starving."
So of course, you order a lemon muffin and bowl of soup.
Teresa and I are listening to Ashlyn describe the emotional rollercoaster of her day. Because 7th grade absolutely sucks. She finds herself suffering from "panic attacks" for no reason. You are listening, but you're not hearing her. You're absorbed in your chemistry homework at the dinner table.
When it comes time for you to tell us about your day, you don't know where to begin.
You get up around 6:00 and go to school all day.
After school you have Cross Country practice.
At XC practice, you establish a self-initiated goal of running 10 miles.
"10.2 to be exact."
Up hills.
Then rush home to take a shower.
Then dinner with family at Jackie's Place.
Then homework.
Then get dropped off at Young Life, youth group.
I thought to myself... you are wayyyy more busy than I am! I can't imagine how exhausted you must be... Why do we do this to ourselves? What are these unrealistic expectations?
To drive and push yourself to succeed and work harder, for what? To get into a good college so you can just rinse and repeat the same exact insanity? So you can get a "good job" and get paid lots of money so you can buy a big house and lots of toys, but you'll never have time to play.
...................
I think you're starting to realize the rat-race, and the corporate demands are soul-sucking. You have ONE LIFE to live to the fullest, with no regrets. I don't care about your grades or your income. I care about your soul. I care about your walk with Jesus. I care about the condition of your heart.
Please don't lose yourself in the chaos of unrealistic expectations.
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