Daily Thought for Wednesday, September 7th

September 7, 2011

The Spiritual Implications of

High School Social Dynamics

Today’s Thought:

“Instead of saying that man is the creature of circumstance, it would be nearer the mark to say that man is the architect of circumstance.  It is character which builds an existence out of circumstance.”  – Thomas Carlyle

Today’s Quotes:

“There must be such a thing as a child with average ability, but you can’t find a parent who will admit that it is his child.” – Thomas Bailey

“A student is not a professional athlete.  He is not a little politician or a junior senator looking for angles.  A student is a person who is learning to fulfill his powers and to find ways of using them in the service of mankind.” – Harold Taylor

Today’s Question

“Listen to a man’s words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a man conceal his character?”  –   Mencius

Today’s Bible Verses:              Proverbs 20:11, Acts 10:34-35 & Colossians 3:9-15

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another, until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices.” –  Richard M. Nixon

A High School social dynamic is a very diverse microcosm of a variety of social groupings. 

You have so many different groups: you have the jocks, nerds, geeks, Goths, stoners, gleeks, preppies, and the list could go on and on.  And if you’re a part of or identified with one particular group, it could in effect ostracize and exclude you from associating with members of various other groups.  There is some crossover and the rules and regulations regarding who can hang with whom and what constitutes cool and accepted and which group is better or worse can depend on the group or possibly sub-groups you may fit in to.

Sadly this pyridine of social stratifications, classifications and separations begins sometimes as early as nursery school.  It develops through Grade School, become more apparent during Middle School and is unavoidable in High School.  And sadly it follows many into College and beyond into adulthood.

This phenomenon can be difficult to maneuver through and often it can become almost  tragic, as your growing up because often it leaves lasting scars and or unrealistic expectations in the hearts and on the minds of those it affects.

Even more unfortunate is that this pariah of social ostracism; this click oriented dynamic of socialism has extended beyond the constructs of our sin satiated society and it has crept into the social dynamics of our spiritual bastions of hope and love; and it can be found in our churches across the globe.    

There are more clicks and pockets of accepted social dynamics in our churches today than you can shake a stick at.

Whatever happened to the notion that “Whosoever will, may come?”  This is what Jesus promoted.  If you pay close attention to His earthly ministry you will see that Jesus went where the people were and where there was a need, He didn’t worry about class, culture, socio-economic standing, years of spirituality, or any other criterion.  He only saw a hurting, lost and dying world in need of a Savior,  a Teacher and a Leader to show them the way.

He expects us to be like-minded.

We need to see beyond such things as denominational labels, cultural backgrounds. Social status, and economic standing and we need to see hearts and lives that God gave His Son to die for and with which He has charged us with the duty and responsibility to love, teach, touch and help transform with the help of the Holy Spirit.

We may not be able to do much to change the dynamics of the high school social scene: but as Christians, it is most certainly within our reach to change the dynamics of the interactions within the body of Christ and within the walls of our churches.  

Today’s Prayer:

Father, when I see others, may I only see the soul that you love as much as you love me: and may I do all that is in my power to show them the same love you have shown to me.