Can we complain if we don't do anything about it?

The other day, Brian and I went into this store where the two people working probably hadn't had a customer all day. They were deep in a conversation, and to be honest, I don't think they knew or cared that we were there. They were talking about how glad they were that a law was just passed saying that parents can't blame anyone but themselves for the way their children turn out. They can no longer blame music, video games or television for their child's violent actions.

The two people working (around my age) continued to talk about how they couldn't believe kids these days. When they were younger, things were different. They respected people. The future of our world is damned if these kids are the future.

Of course since I'm a teacher, a youth leader, and a volunteer at the Juvenile Center, this conversation intrigued me. I started thinking about what they were talking about... at first, I was outraged. How can they say these things about the kids that I spend nearly every minute of the day serving? How can they be so quick to place the blame? What are they doing to fix the problem that they so clearly see? What about looking at things through the eyes of a twelve year old girl who looks through the bars and windows to the outside world everyday? What about looking at the little girl who sits in Juvi and asks the volunteer, "What does it feel like to walk on grass barefooted? I can't remember..."

Granted, I am an advocate of the youth...and sometimes, I have to be the voice for the voiceless. So maybe I am a little biased. But if they took the time they spent complaining, and put it toward looking into the eyes of a kid who is lost, there would be that much less violence. Instead of using their words to tear down the youth, why not use the words to build them up? Instead of criticizing teenagers, why not talk to them? Instead of pointing a finger at them, why not just give them the whole hand. So many of these kids need one.

I wanted to walk up to this girl on her soapbox. I wanted to tell her that she should walk into the juvenile center and answer just one question. Most likely, the kid would say, "I want so desperately to be out of this pit...but I've never met anyone who can help me get out--or at least tell me how."

Want a solution? First, go to church. Not in a church building. I'm talking about Church in a Cell. Once you get past the barbed wire fence, the guards and the bars, you will meet Jesus. At least, that where I've met him on a deeper level than I've ever met him in a church building. Then, use your words. Not to complain, but to help put an end to the problems you so freely complain about. If you do nothing about the problem--you have no room to complain about the solution.