Article January 25, 1988 Issue

Healing and hope for all generations

Is ours a "generation at risk"? Or are our lives inextricably linked to God—with healing purpose?

Marian C. English

"You know what they call us—a generation at risk," she said quietly. Her manner was calm, but her voice and actions revealed a resolute decision to be no part of that category. The high-school senior, speaking to elementary students out of her own experience with drug and alcohol abuse, earnestly emphasized that they could choose not to be at risk.

Destructive habits are some of the severest challenges facing youth today. The turbulence and temptations in today's world would claim to make the developing years far from carefree. To pretend that there is an easy solution would be naive indeed, but pinning the label "generation at risk" on young people and leaving it there is fatal to hope and expectation. Accepting the stereotype that children and teen-agers are defenseless and vulnerable overlooks their great strengths.

There's no record of Christ Jesus' despairing over the vulnerability of youth. On the contrary, he taught his followers to emulate childlike simplicity. Implying that innocence is a spiritual power that can reverse hellish trends, he said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."^{Matt. 18:3.} To him, childlikeness was not weakness that needs to be outgrown as soon as possible but a strong defense to be recognized and nurtured.