Young Man takes his journey…
Yesterday I met with a remarkable young man who came to say goodbye as he is leaving to study in Hong Kong for 6 months or more. Nothing too exceptional in that but let me tell you some of his story.
He was raised as an only child by his Mum from a very early age and attended a very sheltered Christian School where he flourished and excelled academically. As he approached the end of his school life he began to wrestle with the usual questions that confront us as we grow up:
- What will I do with my life?
- What do I believe? Is God real? Is Christianity the only way? Etc.
- Have I got what it takes?
- Will I get a girlfriend?
- Where do I fit in this great big world?
At the end of year 12 this young man made a decision that I believe has shaped him and will shape him for the rest of his life. He undertook a journey, a “Right of Passage” to Africa for 6 months. He didn’t do the tourist thing, instead he immersed himself in the local culture, learned their language, taught in their schools, lived in their villages. He faced his fears (which were considerable), found his strength and pushed into the unknown. The unknown world, but just as importantly, those parts of himself that were unknown.
I remember very clearly saying goodbye to a frightened boy (and being very aware that his Mothers wrath would fall on me if anything happened to him) and being shocked (and delighted) when a man returned six months later. He looked different, he walked confidently, and he had an assurance that had never been there before. Something very fundamental had changed in that short six month period. He was a man and essentially knew that he has what it takes to face life and do life well.
Today he flies off to Hong Kong on another adventure. He is a young man who is living his life purposefully and is a great example to many of us.
Our modern culture makes it hard to grow up – to be a man or a woman, to answer those questions. We don’t have rights of passages built into our society that define the journey. Unfortunately this has been lost for a long, long time in Western society. There seems, however, to be a movement that recognises this necessity. This weekend one of my Sons starts an 800km pilgrimage through Spain. I know one of his questions that he is seeking to answer is, “What will I do with my life, what will my contribution will be?”
The reason for this blog is very simple. I want people to see that this is an essential part of our journey. Men and Women who do this well are fundamentally changed. They live life differently, they live life better! I salute your purposefulness and your bravery.
If any readers have taken their “Right of Passage” please email it to me and I will post it for the other readers.
By Andy Pocock – Clinical Director