3 minute read
Thoughts from the Editor
Thoughts from the Editor
Last month, I went to a birthday party that was anything but your run-of-the-mill teen celebration. Imagine this: the room is stirring with about 30 adults, when all eyes turn to a 14-year-old young man as he steps up, not to blow out candles, but to share his journey of initiation into manhood. Yes, you read that right. This birthday party was a little different.
In an era where the teenage stereotype often includes laziness and addiction to a phone or video games, he was breaking the mold in the best possible way. As the night progressed, we heard about the previous year undertaken by this remarkable young man. We learned about how he worked while others played, studied when others were still asleep, embraced difficult life changes, earned his own money, saved some, gave generously, learned to build, and so much more. Yet the night was not focused on his outcomes, but on his willingness to embrace the process. To say yes, over and over, even when it was uncomfortable.
It's no secret that navigating adolescence today is like trying to find your way out of the Amazon rainforest blindfolded. There’s no well-worn path and very few guides around. Yet, what I experienced that night filled me with fresh vision, hope, and excitement for my own children and those close to me.
Across time and around the world, cultures have celebrated the transition from child to adult with ceremonies rich in meaning and responsibility—call it an initiation process or rites of passage. These time-honored traditions have, for centuries, worked to help young men and women become mature adults who contribute to the well being of their communities.
You see, I'm a dad to two lovely daughters and a wonderful son who are as smart and capable as they come. My wife and I are stumbling through our best attempts to raise them into people of character, calling, and capability. People of substance. Yet, witnessing this young man's journey reminds me that this doesn’t just happen.
This birthday party wasn't just a celebration of another year ticked off the calendar; it was a vivid reminder of the growth that happens when parents with intention lead their kids well. When young men say yes to the process of moving from ease toward a strenuous life. The power of a supportive community. Every adult in that room had sprinkled a bit of wisdom, challenge, or encouragement on this young man's path and throughout his life.
This celebration wasn't just a beacon of hope for one bright young man, but a torchlight for the future of parenting in our day. It showed that with a bit of planning and a lot of heart, boys can grow into men who embody purposeful strength, outward care, and steady commitment to what's right over what's easy. My heart swells not just for that teenager but for all our children. Sure, the world's got its fair share of problems, but there is hope for a generation that follows a path of wisdom, endurance, and discipline. May we become the kind of community where meaningful transformations happen, where growth is nurtured, and where rites of passage are still lived out today. A better future is something we can all get behind, one birthday celebration at a time.
