Article January 31, 1970 Issue

Youth Bridges Parent Gap

BEVERLY BOND FROST

A new kind of Peace Corps worker is needed on the home scene to meet the challenge of broken relationships between young people and their parents. In some homes, of course, there is fair listening and hearing between parent and youth, and good relationships result. But there is evidence that many young people are complaining justly when they say, "Parents listen, but they don't hear."How can youth break this no-hearing barrier between themselves and the older generation?

Young people feel that there is much to be corrected in the old systems prevailing in homes, relationships, marriages, schools, and churches. They often express disapproval of the social establishment as handled by their seniors and have a heartfelt desire to change situations for the better. Much of this is no doubt valid, and in the effort to achieve constructive change they will need, above all, the vital moral and spiritual qualities that ensure success. The forces of Spirit alone bring a peace that is lasting. Unselfed love, forbearance, and patience are required to promote peace. They are barrier-breaking forces for good. We read in the Bible, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."^{ Gal. 5:22, 23;}

Christ Jesus' standards for helping to promote peaceful living among humanity were God-derived. He said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you."^{ John 14:27;} Even though his words were often sharp, and his silence, as when he stood before Pilate, could be a challenge, how deeply everything he said and did was based on Spirit! Right where the action was, at home or abroad, he moved at the impulse of Love because he understood man's relationship to God. He maintained calmness both through compassionate understanding and a mighty firmness in Truth. Right where injustice and oppression were, he performed his mission—"did his thing," as some might say today—without hatred and with much love. His involvement in dealing with world problems was sublime.