I do not like dealing with adults. I used to think that there was a definite line drawn between the behavior and attitudes of adults and the behavior and attitudes of youth. The older I get, and the more experience I have working with adults disproves this theory completely. Especially when you live in the suburbs. Suburban living was a new concept to me a few years ago when we moved to this area. I spent the first part of my life in a small town and the latter years have been in more urban areas. Moving to the suburbs was a bit of a culture shock. I remember going to a local shopping center and feeling clausterphobic with all of the huge SUV’s parked in the parking spaces, many of them sporting youth soccer stickers on the rear windows. Then there was the feeling of inadequacy as I watched woman after woman emerge from these SUV’s looking trim, stylish, and Gucci-ed. My little Neon and I just didn’t seem to fit. I’ve since gotten over that. I also got a Volkswagen. And, I’ve learned that there is a much darker side to suburbia which includes massive debt, high-stress, lack of intimacy and infidelity. One thing I haven’t gotten over is this sense of entitlement that seems to seep into everything in the suburbs.

My husband has been battling this attitude for three years now in our church. Church members who run corporations think that they can bring those same attitudes and principles into running the church, regardless of the experience and expertise the pastors bring. Staff members fight each other for power and postition. Cliques are formed, alliances made. It’s like middle school all over again. Then, there is my breastfeeding support group. Although I no longer attend the group meetings, I still participate in the web-post. Today, for the second time in just a few months, e-maill in-fighting has occurred. One woman sent out an e-mail about her negative impressions of a child-care facility she toured. Another woman, who uses the facility, took great offense and the e-mails started flying.

Now, I can handle these situations when working with my fifth graders. But these are adults. Doesn’t that mean anything anymore? Judging by the newest spate of reality T.V. shows on the air this season, I would have to say no. I think we’re taught in our culture to behave like perpetual junior high schoolers. It sells magazines, and makes for good T.V. Good ratings mean good business. However, I believe there is a reason we aren’t all still in junior high school. The natural progression of life is that we grow and mature. We shouldn’t be out there still behaving like 12 year olds. We, as adults, need to come back to adulthood. We need to forget what we think we deserve or should have, we need to stop being so thin-skinned and easily offended, we need to value good dialogue and learn the art of constructive criticism. More importantly, we need to set an example for our children, not let our children be the example for us.

Blessings and Peace,
Sara

I love to write. Really, that’s the whole purpose for beginning this blog. I haven’t done much writing lately. I have several excuses, but I’m not sure I’d call any of them good, my infant son being the exception. I just sort of came to a place where I stopped writing, and aside from the occasional tug when seeing a new writer interviewed on the Today show, didn’t really care. However, as I’ve been reading through my husband’s blogs lately (www.myemergingmind.blogspot.com), I’ve had this itch in my fingertips to start pounding down on a keyboard again. Blogging seemed to be a good place to start. I don’t yet know where this blog will take me (or you, for that matter), but there are a few things that will define what this blog becomes.

First, I am a pastor’s wife. I must confess that in general, I’m not a big fan of that term. It seems too trite, too dismissive. Yet, being the wife of a pastor does define you in some ways. When I tell people at work that my husband is a pastor, there’s this instant, “Ohhh,” (smile) “that’s great!” It’s as if being married to a pastor makes me an o.k. person somehow, and that’s alright with me. Also, I’ve come to realize that pastors are pastors whether they’re at church or not. Not only can we not go anywhere without running into church members, most of my husband’s thoughts while at home revolve around church. Being a pastor is an all-consuming profession, so being married to one definitely plays a huge part in who you are.

Second, I am a new mother. I have an almost eight month old son at home, who fills a spot within me I never even knew existed. He’s beautiful. Motherhood is an amazing journey that absolutely shapes and defines who you are as an individual and, therefore, will probably play a big role in this blog.

Third, I am a professional youthworker. That term can take, and has taken, many different forms in my life. I went from high school teacher to seminary student to before and after school worker and am now running a before and after school program in the Kansas City, MO school district through an organization called the Local Investment Commission. (Check out their website: www.kclinc.org They do good work.) I have a master’s degree in Christian Education and specialized in urban youth outreach. I’m not really using my degree to its full potential at the moment, other than teaching mid-high Sunday School at church, but I trust that it will eventually be money well-spent.

Last, but certainly not least, I am a Christian, and a United Methodist at that. My faith has always had a major impact on what I think and what I do. It will, in turn, have a major impact on what I write.

I think I’m going to enjoy this journey. Let me know what you think!

Blessings and Peace,
Sara