Opportunity in the Eye of the Storm

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

Sound advice. Of course, Solomon didn't have to contend with MTV, but the principle still holds true today as we try to teach discernment to youngsters bombarded by the media.

For some parents, the promise of Proverbs 22:6 inspires expectant optimism. The children are still young. Mom and dad do their best to make biblically based entertainment choices and monitor what's going into junior's system. When the family views television together, communication becomes education. As certain programming requests are denied, a rational explanation usually does the trick. No shouting matches. No slamming doors. And, ultimately, hope results from the foundation being laid.

There are, however, many loving mothers and fathers for whom Proverbs 22:6 is like a pebble in their shoe -- a painful reminder that, for whatever reason, they missed that "window of opportunity." The children are older. They've developed some unhealthy habits in selecting entertainment and resist -- or rebel against -- parental guidance. Storms of conflict rage in the home. And rescue seems hopeless. Even in caring Christian families, this dilemma is surprisingly common.

I was thinking about this issue when I was reminded of the 1969 movie MAROONED. In the film, three astronauts face certain death when a malfunction leaves them stranded in space. Ground control scrambles to organize a rescue mission. The crew's oxygen is running low. It's a race against time. Then, just as the countdown for the rescue craft nears blast-off, a violent storm covers the cape, making it impossible to launch. All appears lost until scientists realize that the eye of the storm is due to pass over the launch site, and if their timing is perfect, it could provide the opening they need. Sure enough, the rocket blasts through the hole and rendezvouses with the crippled craft, just in the nick of time.

Obviously, the ideal time to attempt a rescue is before a storm hits. Solomon understood that. For many adults, however, the need to help young people be more discerning about the voices of the culture isn't acknowledged until dark clouds have already begun rolling in. But those parents shouldn't lose hope. While it's preferable to "train a child in the way he should go," a new window of opportunity could arrive in the midst of present conflict ... the eye of the storm. Make no mistake; there's no foolproof formula for renewal. Each situation is different. But with prayer, love and sensitivity, it's never too late to reverse patterns of poor decision making.

Once I was in Nashville to visit with country singer Ricky Skaggs. He's a brother in the Lord and a dedicated family man. Even he has struggled with setting standards for media consumption in his home. Ricky admitted, "We came in real late on our teenagers, especially with my oldest son." But in time, his teen son's rebellious spirit softened.

"He had come to the end of his rope," Ricky explained. "He said, 'Dad, I don't like the life I've been living. I want to change. I want to get myself right with God, with you and with my friends.' We only have a certain degree of openness with our children unless they open the door all the way. We've got to love our kids where they are, no matter what they do. That's what brought the prodigal back."

Ricky Skaggs' testimony stands as a shining example of hope for frustrated parents of adolescents. By praying and keeping the lines of communication open, we can set the stage for change. A rescue of sorts. Is there a storm raging in your home? Your next window of opportunity could come right in the middle of it.