Leaving The Nest

Well, it’s that time of the year when all around the world young people are preparing to leave the nest heading off to colleges and universities. So, I’d like to address them with some thoughts. Most of you have yet come to the realization that all the disciplines, chores and responsibilities (or the lack thereof) you have experienced so far in your young lives are about to come into play. That prepared place of rest found at the end of each day, you will now have to prepare for yourselves. Yes young fledglings, what you are about to start coming home to, you are building for yourself. And, whoever nurtured you to this point is all of a sudden going to become the smartest person you’ve ever known, because the world is immediately going to try to take advantage of you, but echoes of their training are going to help you survive. Self-discipline is now your only defense toward self-preservation. Be very weary of who you listen to, where you go and what you do, for your new found freedoms could overpower your whole life. Remember, things are not always as they seem and the world can be confusing. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple or pine in pineapple. Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. And, a slim chance and a fat chance are the same, but a wise man and a wise guy are opposite.
The world really isn’t all that confusing. Trust your instincts, use your knowledge with a little common sense, and you’ll live a long and happy life. Look at it this way. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? See? Life isn’t all that tough. Life is like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. Without college even I know pie are round! Cornbread are square.
[Matthew 16:1-12] I pray for all who will soon find themselves out on their own responsible for themselves, maybe for the first time in their life. Beware! The protection and advise of home may no longer be readily available for counsel. But there are good people where you are going who want to be loving surrogates, serving in your best interest. You are about to go out into the wilderness and just as Jesus was tempted so you will be also. You will be tempted greater than ever before and I also pray you will do as Jesus did and fall back on God’s word for strength. I pray you’ve been working throughout your teen years to grow a faith of your own in a love for God and practicing a righteous lifestyle, because you’re going to need it. If your faith is weak and the temptations are strong, seek out a group of Christians to hang with. Trust me, they’re there. Leaven is about to enter your life in greater quantities than ever before. Be careful who is doing the leavening. Jesus warned His disciples about what the Pharisees and the Sadducees were teaching, which changes the mind as leaven changes dough. There are teachers who don’t think or believe as you do and they will leaven your brain with ideas and ideals that can change your mind about eternal life. Keep God’s word ever before you and the devil will flee from you. Your Father in heaven is always with you.