"For I will pour
out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My
Spirit on our offspring and My blessing on your descendants and they will
spring up like grass like poplars by streams of water." (Isa. 44:3-4).
"Behold, Children are a gift from
the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward....How blessed is the man whose
quiver is full of them" (Psa. 127: 3, 5).
Hey Gang: How many
know we need a crash course, across our land, on these two verses. At least among all who are getting
hitched. Those who know me, know I have
spent most of my life working with youth who are struggling with the empty
cavity syndrome; this often could be filled with the mom or dad who implicated ‘caring
for you is just too much of a hassle and restricts my freedoms.’
When I graduated from college I fully intended on continuing
my education in California to prepare for a career in criminology. I do not have a clue why I choose that field
because I am totally ill equipped to work in any field that requires
understanding in science and physics.
God knew that. He knew my DNA was
far better equipped to work on the other side of criminology called
"throwing out a life line to kids that were floundering."
With four youngsters under the age of six, I had no choice-
I had to get a job and get it fast. It
did not appear that I was going to be able to attend college until I salted
away enough bread to pay the bills, so I was seeking something that was within
my ability level and could gain understanding of how to work with the kids of
the "system". That led me to a
Juvenile Detention Center that just happened to be looking for someone who
could start - that day!
They were very kind and assured me I would receive training
before being throw to the wolves. So
they scheduled me for an observation shift that night and gave me all the tools
I would need - a set of keys. I could
fill ten or twelve morning messages with my first experiences as a counselor in
a detention center, in the hard core section.
Here one had to be a class-one felon to gain entry. There is no question
in my mind this was where God wanted to train me in the finer points of 'throwing out life-lines.
When I walked in the section the next day, having completed
my required training program the previous night, I was confronted by fifty
hostile young men who were not fond of counselors and were quick to let me know
it. I knew, if God placed me there He
would provide a safety net for me. Very
early in my first shift God put words in my mouth that would provide the basis
for the education that was to follow. Two fairly good-sized lads from different
gangs decided they did not like each other and were demonstrating their distain
by beating on each other.
Now, as I think back I must admit I do not have a clue why I
did what I did. I stepped between the
two lads and suggested there might be a less painful way to resolve what was
bugging them! One of the lads said,
"Whatcha gunna do man?” Good
question. I did not have a clue what I
was ‘gunna do, man!’
Now, I also do not have a clue where my response to that
question came from. I said, "I don't have a clue what I am ‘gunna do’
because you have not yet taught me what I should do that will help you fix your
life and get out of here. As I recall, I
am not sure who was more shocked, my co-worker, the kids or yours truly.
Soooo, To make the very long story very short - THEY
DID. The fight stopped and we pow-wowed
for an hour or so, in which most of the young men entered into the discussion
and my education was begun.
The year I retired from Eagle Village I was awarded an
Honorary Doctors Degree from Ferris State University. It was an award I accepted for all the people
who have given time and talents to help the many kids who have found hope and
success at the Village throughout the years.
But I really received my ‘Ph.D’ in experience in a detention home in
California, taught by a bunch of kids that by world standards were
"weeds". (Check out blog from March 10).
Blessings,
Gramps
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