"People need to know that they are not alone in their efforts..."

That statement rattled around in my mind for a moment as I struggled to focus on the conversation at hand. I was sitting in the office of the newly hired principal of John Sevier Middle School, one of two middle schools in our city, with my pastor, Frank. We went there today to acquaint ourselves with the new principal and to let her know that our congregation had adopted her school a number of years ago so that we could support it through prayer, volunteer initiatives, and any other way that we could be of assistance.

It was a surreal moment for me. It was one of only a handful of times I had been back in the school since the days I was a student there some 24 years ago. It had undergone a lot of changes both to the physical plant and to the personnel. Not only that, but this new principal we were seated across the table from was a classmate of mine from high school. She had made quite a name for herself athletically in high school and college, and now it was becoming increasingly more obvious to me that she was still making a name for herself in her vocational career, as well. For all the aforementioned reasons, my focus was lacking.

Principal Lyons was laying out her vision to offer some resource to the parents of the middle schoolers she was quickly growing to love when she uttered the phrase, "People need to know that they are not alone in their efforts." She had the vision to create a center within the school, staffed with volunteers who could offer training, education, and insight on parenting children in this new age. She went on, "Columbine doesn't happen if parents are taught to look for the warning signs, if people know what their kids are exposed to now in our schools and in our culture."

The words she was saying were deeply penetrating for me. I for one have to admit that I like to stand at a distance and cast dispersions toward "these parents of today" who don't seem to have a clue about how to handle or support their kids. It is easy to forget that these things are cyclical. "These parents'" parents did not give a very strong, positive example for their kids and now we are dealing with the second generation. It is one thing to observe and articulate the problem, it is all together a different matter to actually do something about it, and that is precisely what Principal Lyons was proposing.

As saints in this age, we need to stop throwing stones and start looking for ways we can actually show the love of Jesus to people through initiatives like that which Principal Lyons put forth. We are surrounded by people who are struggling with raising their children. I truly do not believe that they want their adolescent child to be pregnant, doing drugs, drinking alcohol or pondering suicide. Yet all these things are running rampant, yes, even among our 12-14 year-olds. Many of these parents feel that no one understands or cares and they have no where else to turn.

What if we showed them that they do have an advocate and His name is Jesus? He cares and He wants us to be salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16). Prayerfully consider how you can be an agent of change rather than an accuser. After all, Satan has that job and needs no help.