Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Spiritual Adolescence
Adolescence is a time many parents dread. Living with an adolescent can be like living through a decade of the ‘terrible twos’ (only with an adult sized body). Sometimes the child grows past the parent. Sometimes the child’s capacity for logic (along with the information available about certain subjects) rivals those of their parents.
Along with this astonishing time of growth comes a push for independence and the differentiating of identity from that of the parent.
One delightful piece of information made available over the last few years is that the part of the brain that controls decision making (judgment/evaluation and action/risk) is still growing until the person is in their early twenties. This is scientific truth, much to the chagrin of certain adolescents I know.
Take a look: http://www.childwelfare.net/SJDC/braindevelopment.html
It is an example of grace when children go through adolescence without going into out-and-out rebellion. In many instances it is only the faith of believing adolescents which keep them in a lifestyle of ‘honoring’ their parents. The tendency of the adolescent is to find their identity amongst their peers.
The young believer begins to grow up…
Amazingly, all of a sudden they discover that they know as much as, or more than, their spiritual parents! (LOL!) Perhaps they come to different doctrinal conclusions. They begin to find different sources of spiritual nourishment than their elders. The way things have been done are so... old.
This is different from deep character flaws. The spiritual adolescent is experiencing growing pains. They are coming into their own sense of identity and mission.
The wise adolescent works through these times, maintaining a relationship with those who have nourished him
The foolish adolescent?
Well ... perhaps they no longer communicate, as they cut their parents off. They tend to hang out with others who feel the same way about their parents. In a worst case scenario, they run away from home. Then they complain about being ‘fatherless’ as they tear down the work of their spiritual parents.
Actually, they’ve opted out of the confirmation process.
