Spring

Break is over, I think. The college set, and increasingly

the high school set, head off for one of the beaches to

burn and booze. Spring Break, and its deification by MTV,

is all about money, alcohol, and sex.

Although the kids may say

it's about "taking a break from arduous

studies," in the first and final analysis it's all

about money, alcohol, and sex.

No. My daughter, who is not

Spring Break material yet-just 15, will not be

participating in the annual approved and accepted

rebellion among America's youth. I can hear it now,

"Just wait until she's a college freshman or a high

school senior, Just wait." Well, rather than just

waiting between now and then, I'll be busy working along

with my wife to instill a set of values which have no

taste for Spring Break.

Spring Break has its own

"theology." Part of it says that the

unmonitored beach and booze experience is an unalterable

right of those whose glands deserve a lane at the Atlanta

Motor Speedway. Parents, in the face of this right, close

their eyes and cover their ears, hoping not to hear from

a traffic policeman or have a call from the obstetrician.

"After all, " parents say, "we did it when

we were their age." After all, I say, those same

parents have little room to talk.

Another aspect of Spring

Break "theology" holds that when teens get

drunk or have sex it's not really sin, but kids having

some fun after being pent up all winter. That it's not

the kind of sin that God disapproves of, but that he

understands since he made them with the sex drive and the

bent for pleasure. It's not an orgy of depravity and

debauchery, but sweet kids letting off a little steam.

Now, from the commercial

side, Spring Break is about money. Several years ago Ft.

Lauderdale, the town sung about in "Where the Boys

Are," decided the costs of Spring Break were too

great and started un-inviting the kids to come. Well, it

didn't take the kids long to get the message that they

were unwanted. So, they went somewhere else. Now, the

merchants of Ft. Lauderdale have realized how much they

miss the money and are jealous of the other cities

getting the money; so, the welcome mat is out again. It's

all about money.

If your son's or daughter's

annual stuff includes a spring break trip and he or she

is 20 years old, start saying your prayers because

there's not much you will be able to do. They are going!

But if your son or daughter is at the stage where they

believe what Mama and Daddy says is Truth, then get all

the truth in their minds and hearts that you can. Help

them to desire to keep the Fifth Commandment to

"honor your father and mother." And when you

say "no" to an unholy Spring Break trip, they

will respect it and understand it. I promise you!

Start planning now for next

year. Spring 2001 will be here before you know it.

The Rev. Dr. John

Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in

Fayetteville.

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