The teens that I’ve been meeting and working with are concerned about the corruption that they believe has contaminated our country and world. They are brighter than some adults give them credit for and they can vote at 18. And
The teens that I’ve been meeting and working with are concerned about the corruption that they believe has contaminated our country and world. They are brighter than some adults give them credit for and they can vote at 18. And it’s not just the kids.
I hear, “This is a small island. It seems to me that meth could be wiped out if people really cared and were honest. Meth kills. Why don’t people at the top do something?” “People must be getting paid to look the other way sometimes.”
We always want people “at the top” to do something. Often it’s because people in the middle don’t know what to do. I’ve sometimes asked back if they know someone who’s using meth, and sometimes they do. When asked if they’ve reported them, I often get a “No.” People are frightened of them, or they won’t tell on family or friends.
There is the concern about where our country may be going. The comedians are having a splendid time with the politicians who are choosing to run for election. Sadly, this beautiful country founded on high values, trust, respect and love of fellow men may be facing its greatest test yet. Can the love of humankind, and our God-given rights stand up to the love of money, fame and power.
The position of the president of the United States is a reflection on who the American people are. We need to choose very carefully for the highest good of all.
But this column isn’t about politics. It’s about what teens and others can look to when it seems that leadership needs a readjustment. Churches deal with morality and values, so perhaps the first step for a youth in a church would be to look there.
Yet, sometimes when I suggest that, I am reminded of corruption within the churches. Yes, but these cases are in the news because they are unusual cases. Most of the shepherds care deeply about their flocks. Try another one if yours doesn’t resonate. Or pray and ask that whatever you call God’s messengers of wisdom and love help you open your heart and mind to understanding what you can do.
The first step is to choose to want to make a positive difference in the world with true commitment.
I remember a time in my life, and I was in my 50s when I became disillusioned by one I deeply trusted as a spiritual teacher. I had learned from him and been able to prove to myself that so many of his teachings were true. But he had a shadow side. Some of his choices weren’t good for him and others, and when we make bad choices, Beloved uses them to teach us how to make better choices. I wasn’t going to throw out the truth I knew because of the lesson he was learning, but I wasn’t exactly at peace. I prayed for help in resolving the conflict I was feeling.
The answer came as I was watching a movie with my son called “Dragonheart.” Bowen (Dennis Quaid), knight of the old code, sadly served an evil king, but taught the prince the art of knights including protocol, manners, fencing, and other fighting skills in hopes that he would become an honorable king. He didn’t.
Deeply disillusioned, Bowen becomes a dragon slayer, until he meets up with the last dragon, Draco (voice of Sean Connery). They are equally matched, and become friends. After many adventures, Bowen is still disillusioned. Draco flies Bowen to Avalon, the mythical kingdom of King Arthur. They meet the ghosts of King Arthur and his knights who recite for Bowen the knight’s code and knight him.
It’s a code that all of us can live by, and I was very moved thinking how wonderful life could be on our planet if we knighted ourselves, and followed something like this:
“A knight is sworn to valor,
His heart knows only virtue,
His blade defends the helpless,
His might upholds the weak,
His word speaks only truth,
His wrath undoes the wicked.
The right can never die, if one man still recalls.
The words are not forgot, if one voice speaks them clear.
The code forever shines, if one heart holds it bright”
Many of the most valiant heroes on our planet had very humble beginnings, but they had noble souls that led them forward into living lives of goodness. Joan of Arc heard the saints in her head as a 13-year-old uneducated peasant girl, and following their direction reestablished her king on the throne of France. She was beheaded at 19 for sordid political reasons, but kings, knights and soldiers trusted her purity, nobility, sincerity, and virtue. She is a Catholic saint.
St. Bernadette was not considered very bright. She couldn’t pass her Catholic Catechism. But as a teen, Mother Mary came to Bernadette, recognizing her purity, kindness, and willingness to do right. Thousands, maybe millions have been healed at the Lourdes Grotto in France, where she met Mother Mary.
Gideon was the “least of the least” in his camp, which was bleakly defending a strongly armed army many times their size. God spoke to him and led the Hebrews to victory without even a drop of blood being shed. When Gideon asked, “Why me?” God responded that by choosing him, others would know that the direction came from God.
I attended a presentation of “Living Values Education” at Kapaa High School on Feb. 9. Deborah Burnham was the presenter and councilmember’s Mason Chock, and Joann Yukimura were there. LVE flies under the wing of UNESCO, which is the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture founded in 1945. LVE is in more than 60 countries, and facilitators go into war, or earth disaster zones, and work with the children modeling and teaching them values which when they become lived, which takes about a year and a half, cause them to find peace again.
As I’ve shared before, learning increases when students are happy and not stressed. Learn more about LVE by visiting the site, which has free downloadable materials at www.livingvalues.net. or call Deborah Burnham at (808) 651-4534. She is collaborating with others to bring this into our school system.
What stood out for me in her presentation was that in the beginning, the countries of the world were asked what values were the most important for them. Then representatives came together and chose 12. Please take note: peace, respect, love, happiness, honesty, humility, responsibility, simplicity, tolerance, cooperation, freedom, and unity.
Virtue means high moral standards. It means doing what’s right even when tempted. We all have the “High Code” within us and if we get stuck in a situation, we can take time to listen to it, not with our ego’s petty selfish thoughts, but with our noblest human minds.
Calling on all knights of all ages. There is so much help available when we get ourselves aligned with the right plan!
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Hale Opio Kauai convened a support group of adults in our Kauai community to “step into the corner” for our teens, to answer questions and give support to youth and their families on a wide variety of issues. Please email your questions or concerns facing our youth and families today to Annaleah Atkinson at aatkinson@haleopio.org For more information about Hale ‘Opio Kauai, please go to www.haleopio.org
