Hear Us
February 16, 2009
“It’s not the same anymore.”
“Right now my mom is working two jobs. She’s considered lucky, because some people have no job right now.”
“I’m really, really scared.”
“Do people look around and see what’s really going on?”
In our current cultural climate of adult economic woes (and instinctive self-preservation), who is listening to what the kids have to say? One public high school teacher asked students to create this video after reading The Great Gatsby and reflecting on the gaps they are discovering in the American Dream. The quotes above are from their voices. These are real-life reflections and stories from a group of students from a local classroom, sharing their very real pain and worries about family finances, fearing homelessness, and the growing sense of hopelessness that is invading many of our communities.
As we force ourselves to look at these faces and hear these voices, what’s our response as bearers of the Good News of God? How do we speak hope in the midst of increasing despair? These kids may or may not look like kids in your youth group or your neighborhood, but their concerns are likely similar.
If you asked your students similar questions, what would they say? Who would they want to hear their message? How will you help them speak and be heard?
Perhaps together we can cultivate a culture of listening to the pain rather than avoiding it. We may not be able to solve every problem, but as we listen, we can rebuild hope in a Kingdom that promises something far greater than the American Dream.
PS: If you also create videos like this one, capturing the hopes and fears of students in your ministry, we’d love to see them!
©2009 Fuller Youth Institute
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