It’s not very often but today I find myself thinking about when I was young and some of the choices I made. Even though many of them should have been different and of course better thought out and Godlier in nature, there is not “regret” associated with them. Possibly, one or two, but NOT for the most part. I will say there has been repentance, but I know they were (hard) lessons that had to be learned and I would not be where I am today without those major screw ups. So don’t take today’s note as a sermon, but take it as an old man’s musings who had hopes it would make sense.

The biggest problem I have today is remembering what it was like to be young, naïve, inexperienced, and at times down right gullible. Even if you have Godly parents they will be flawed just like me and your mother. Even if you have good direction and an innate moral compass there are still things that you must learn – often times the hard way to ensure it sticks. So, here it is – a verse I blew off as a youth and it burned me. “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

I can honestly tell you I had no concept of the truth behind the phrase “the evil desires of youth.” With hormones raging, good IQ scores and pretty good grades in school and college, I was being set up for a wakeup call that would rock my world. In Eastern cultures there is a venerable respect for age and experience. In our society, not so much. So, as teenagers we already know it all. Why? Because the newness of experiences, people, relationships accompanied by stimulations that we have never experienced before and are simply not equipped or ready to handle – especially desire.

Conceptually there is nothing wrong with desire as it can be the motivator for greatness, and enthusiasm for attaining our goals and expectations. The key is finding a filter that will help you screen out the “feel goods” that will end up killing you. (Proverbs 14:12) That is why the previous verse ends with direction as to how to pursue those desires – with a pure heart, not lust or passion. I can honestly say, most young people’s filtering system is not that great. However, there is purpose behind the way things work, because there is great intensity in youth and the lessons have their impact.

So when I talk with you try to remember that the memory of allowing unfiltered desires and the pain it inflicts becomes more and more of the reason which may cause you to see me as harsh or unfeeling. Your mom and I are just trying to spare you some pain and forget that it is often the pain that helps you grow up (IF you learn from the experiences.) The advice I have for you today is simple. If you make a poor choice, driven by desire, you will repeat it until you learn. If you refuse the growth brought about by the pain of those choices, you are destined to experience deeper pain each time this type of mistake occurs. It’s God’s way of repeating things to make a point or engrain a principle. (Isaiah 28:9 – 10.)

Now, I say these things because many of the desires I used to have no longer exist. I learned that they are not worth the pain. However, I want you to know that I believe this verse strongly: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12) Do your best, but when things get a hold of your naivety, forgive yourself and move on. God is teaching you something so learn the first time. You WILL learn, in time what is and is NOT worth the pain of flawed desires. I really love you.

Love Dad