Have You Ever Felt Stranded?

If you look up the meaning of the word "Stranded" on Google Definition, the first entry says: isolated: cut off or left behind; "an isolated pawn"; "several stranded fish in a tide pool"; "travelers marooned by the blizzard"

That's about how I felt most of my life. Not because I'm adopted... though the two experiences are likely tethered in some way. The type of experience I'm talking about now is very common in modern society (vs. a more traditional or tribal society).

Think of a teenage boy, just because it's a handy example. Maybe he's 16 years old. He's probably got a lot on his mind. Sex, cars, pecking-order status, maybe his favorite music or whatever else he's passionate about.

He's probably still got a dad in the picture some way. This relationship is probably strained because the father is not totally clear on what he's doing with his own life Purpose, let alone how to initiate his boy into manhood (which ALL tribal and traditional societies do, and which our modern religious parties fail to approximate).

Even just 100 years ago, a boy of this age would be working on the farm as a grown man, perhaps with a family and farm of his own. Or he would be taking up apprenticeship in a trade, or working in a factory to garner income to establish a life for himself and his family. He sure as hell wouldn't be laying on the couch playing X-Box and feeding his munchies with Pringles and Crystal Lite.

Parents abdicate the responsibilities of socializing this boy to either the schooling system (the State) or a religious organization (the Church), or some combination thereof. At best the boy will get some specialized training through a private school or lessons with an expert in some discipline like music or sports.

As for this boy's soul... his Purpose, the reason he was born into this life... completely ignored. Everyone just assumes the boy will grow up and figure it all out. How to contribute to society, how to relate to loved ones and far ones, how to stay healthy and spread good in the world by living a well-considered life... yet these things are never directly taught. The boy assumes he's stuck with whatever he picks up through osmosis along the way, or if he transgresses too deeply, he will be reprimanded and this correction will be sufficient to keep him safe and satisfied in life.

Error.

This boy is STRANDED.

He needs mentoring.

He needs someone who can draw forth a sense of purpose in his awareness.

He needs someone to sit with him and talk about what's important to him, what he wants in life, how he's gonna get there.

He needs support and accountability and blessing.

He needs initiation and responsibility and creative challenge.

Have you ever felt stranded?

Craig