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| Michaelangelo's David |
Many of us are on a journey with not just one young man but many. All are in different phases of their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. I am convinced that most boys when they turn 13 years old take their brains out of their heads some how and put them in a jar on a shelf for a few years. Possibly even a decade or more depending on the boy. The development of the adolescent man plays tricks on the minds of adults some times. We see these boys and their bodies are growing and developing into men. Literally some of them will reach the full stature of their height and finish puberty before they graduate from high school while others don't sprout their first whisker until they are in their 20s. All the while their brains seem to take a holiday. It's almost like the body says to the brain, "Listen buddy... I am going to be using a lot of resources over the next few years to grow this bad boy we call a body. You know, that includes bone mass, muscle mass, testosterone, and the like. It's going to take just about everything I can stuff in the pie hole to get it done and there isn't likely going to be much left over for you. So I'll tell you what. Why don't you just take a vacation for a bit while I work on building this machine. Sort of go on auto pilot you know? You can engage a little later once I've finished the foundation and we'll get back together. It will be quite a machine when I'm finished but you'll have to wait to use it fully until I'm finished. Just keep operating at a 10 to 12 year old level and you can catch up later."
If any of you have worked with teenage boys you know what I am talking about. This is the part where the sculptor in you comes in. When they do some blockhead, idiotic thing, stop and say to yourself, "Just remember the potential in this boy. What could he become?" Then, knock off a chunk here and there. Chisel this away or that away. Polish here and there. At times it can be a painstaking process but it is worth it.
Several years ago I was the Varsity coach for a group of boys who are now just about to go on their missions. There was one boy in particular that I said on more than one occasion that his life could go one of two ways. He would either pull it together and be a decent contributing member of society or he was going to end up in prison... and I meant it. I am happy to report that he has made tremendous strides in positive directions over the last few months and it has been so amazingly fun to watch. I find myself hugging him all the time and encouraging him in his current path. There were some pretty rough patches he had to go through and a lot of chunks we had to knock off along the way but he's starting to take shape. Some day, he'll be a masterpiece.
We are all the same. We all have eternal potential to be like God. Ultimately he is the master sculptor and the quintessential visionary to that potential in us. And in His hands, we will be masterpieces if we are willing to submit to the knocking, chiseling, buffing, and polishing He sees fit to subject us to.
So as you continue to work your tickets and apply these principles to the young men and boys you have opportunities to work with remember that one word, "potential." Apply it to them and apply it to yourselves.
I want each of you to know I see your potential. I see the influence you will have on generations to follow. You have already taken great strides to improve yourselves so that you can be that influence. I hope that each of you will continue to work toward mastery and share your insight and experience with others. Be patient with the boys and ever hopeful for their future.
God bless you all!
YIS- Tom Brand
The Regal Eagle
