A New Way to Go Green

“I’m in love. His name is Jordan Catalano. He was left back. Twice. Once I almost touched his shoulder in the middle of a pop quiz.” ~ Angela Chase

I got to hang out with an old friend today, one I haven’t seen in over ten years, and it was so much fun! We met at a cute little cafe and had lunch. In some ways it was like nothing had changed, we just hung out and ate, and talked about all manner of things. In other ways, lots of things have changed – she’s married and has an adorable little boy!

The last time I saw her she was still in high school, and I had recently graduated. Our lives have gone all over the place since then! One thing I’ve always enjoyed about her (and there are several!) is the lack of drama in her life. We somehow managed to remain on the outside of it while watching and listening to our friends get so easily overwhelmed. We talked about this briefly today, referring specifically to the camp we both attended and later worked for, which is how we became friends.

Later, while we were sitting in the shade at a local park and watching her son explore the playground (he's fifteen months and likes rocks and dirt!), we got to talking about the differences in kids today, compared to when we were younger. For us, almost touching a guy’s shoulder would have been something to freak out about and share with all of our friends, which is why the character of Angela Chase on My So-Called Life struck a chord with so many girls when it was on air. Today, a girl getting pregnant at fourteen isn’t even much of a scandal. Some schools have even started up daycares so the teen moms don’t have to drop out.

I believe that God has a plan for all of our lives, and that He will bless the life of every newborn child; I also believe there are consequences for our actions, and sometimes even the ones that seem bad can bless us. However, I believe that our inaction prompts consequences, too, and that’s something that can just as easily be avoided. It doesn't matter if you don't have kids, you're not excluded. Don’t expect parents to be the only source of encouragement, or assume they’re the only example kids are following. If you want to affect great change on the future, even more than recycling and using cleaner air products – show kids how to live. Walk the talk.