Since
late winter / early spring, I have been teaching the high school Sunday School
class at the parish to which I am assigned. I have enjoyed it. At the same
time, I have chosen to take a non-standard approach. So, we have discussed
movies like: Divergent, Hunger Games, Twilight, The Hobbit, and Lord of the
Rings. Why have I done that? In order to gain the opening to be heard. It has
been an opportunity to discuss what it means to be an adult. Whether you
realize it or not, every one of those movies deals with the subject of what it
means to be a responsible adult in the world in which one lives. Of course,
movies are filmed to make money. However, these are movies based on books that
do use the subject of “becoming mature” as the backbone of their plot.
In every
one of these movies, the young adult involved is living an unconcerned life
when something happens that forces them to lift their view from themselves to
the wider world. Sometimes the young adult is still in high school. Sometimes
the young adult is already a legal adult, but has let life pass them by and are
simply living a non-self-reflecting life. That is, they never reflect about
what they are doing, whether they have a broader duty in the world, and whether
they have a responsibility to their friends and acquaintances.
Teenagers
want to be regarded as adults. But, we adults in USA culture do a terrible job
of letting youngsters know when they have become adults. We have a multiplicity
of both legal and cultural practices that seem to be almost designed to make it
seriously unclear about when the transition from youth to adult happens. You
can drive at one age, vote at another age, buy liquor at a third age, be able
to rent a car and buy a house at another age. Is it any surprise that we have
adults who behave like children until their late 20’s? We are responsible for
that, not them!
But,
discussing what it means to be an adult has proven to be fruitful. Attendance
has stabilized, and so far I have had two parents compliment me that their
son/daughter is more willing to go to class. At the same time, I find myself
constantly questioning myself, since Scripture does not necessarily come up in
each class. Scriptural allusions are made, but not necessarily direct
Scriptural quotations. But, I have found out that in this confusing world, our
young folk want to know when we will consider them to be an adult. But, am I
taking the right approach? I trust so.
The
situations found in the various movies are all extreme situations. But, they
teach us something. They teach us that one of the main questions that our young
folk have is precisely that of becoming an adult. When have they reached
adulthood? How will they know? When will be start treating them as adults? The
movies would not be popular if the themes they touch upon were not themes that
are forefront in the minds of our young adults. How do we fit in?
So, the
discussions have been fruitful. What does it mean to make difficult choices? Is
being considered an adult merely a matter of age or also a matter of behavior?
Does one have to rebel in order to be considered an adult, or is there a
different path one can take? Those are all questions that we have discussed.
Now,
saying “discussed” is misleading. Frankly, most of the time there is little
talk from the teenagers, at least in class. But, as long as they are going home
and telling their parents that they are learning something important, I am
satisfied. And, if they think that there is a priest who understands them, then
I am more than satisfied. The process of transitioning from youth to adult is
difficult. But, perhaps I can have a small piece in helping that process to be
successful.
I am
beginning to believe that the discussions that we have in senior high school
classes need to concentrate more on the transitions that are difficult for them
to handle without some help. Would you believe that I am thinking of tackling
dating next?
Source:
https://www.orthocuban.com/2015/06/teens-sunday-school-and-maturity/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+Orthocuban+%2528OrthoCuban%2529
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