I am reading YA (young adult) novels to pick one for our next book discussion, curated by one of our middle school teachers. I was hoping we could have more of an intergenerational representation, help our young people to feel included. And it expands my view of what is going on. I really don’t have any young adults in my home any more. So listening is important.
The first book I read was about a tragic event that included a Black teenager and a White genderqueer person. The book I am reading now is about a Latina teenager. Both detail the struggles of daily life, the challenges, the stereotypes, the cruelty, the imperfect families. And, the strengths, the friendships and support, the intelligence, and the resilience.
I am deeply moved and disturbed by how hard life is for young people. So complicated, so tricky. Maybe it has always been that way. I think back to my own advantaged, protected, imperfect but mostly safe teen years. I made some significant mistakes. But my context was such that I could survive them, learn from them, become more certain of who I want to be from them. My context was such that one bad choice wasn’t the end of hope.
The uncertainties and bad examples of our time only complicates the world of young adults. My GenX/Boomer view might be that they have it easy, that adulthood is harder. It is easy to judge when you don’t know. I think these days we all have it hard.
Just as I have been encouraging the church to reach beyond its comfort zone in terms of race and economic status, we have to expand our knowledge and acceptance of young people. They are challenged and tested in ways we can’t imagine and so they bring a wisdom we need to hear. They will call us when we are hypocritical, and might be bored by our predictability. But they have told me they value experience, they value everyone’s story, and they want safe and accepting community.
The Body of Christ is a body of love, compassion and inclusion. Let’s be sure we are including all people in our vision of that, because God is.