"Let no

one look down upon your youthfulness" was the counsel that one spiritual

sage gave to a younger follower of Jesus Christ. He added, "... but

speech, conduct, love, faith, purity, show yourself an example of those

who believe" (1 Timothy 4:12). That's as good advice as any I could

give the graduating seniors of 2002.

We do a disservice

to many of our children by selling them the notion that until their youthfulness

is totally educated and they are older and drier, they can't be of much

use to society. Early Christianity survived essentially because of virile

youth. Peter, James, and John were young men, perhaps in their late teens,

when they began to take the Gospel to the ends of the world.

For the bright

ones who want more schooling, we quarantine them within entities called

colleges and universities where professors will listen patiently to their

wild ideas and eventually dismiss them as too bold, too far-sighted, too

unconventional, or too crazy.

Therefore,

if perchance this column might get into the hands of one of those subversives,

let me say this to them:

"Be bold!"

You can be bold and courteous at the same time. But, for heaven's sake,

be bold about your dreams, convictions, and priorities. Don't let some

middle-income, happy in-his-lazy- boy man tell you to stop dreaming. Don't

let some jerk freshman entice you with some dirty drugs. Just say, "Heavens

no." Don't let someone suggest your priorities of God, family, church

is in some way un-political. Be bold from the convenient store clerk to

your old dad. But, remember, also be courteous.

Then, I would

tell you, "Be Intentional." If you want to accomplish a goal

or a career path, be very intentional. It's not for your mama, daddy,

teacher, or friend to be intentional for you. No such thing as vicarious

intentionality (someone else having it for you). You must be the one with

the burning zeal to go after what you want. In this process, let no one

look down on you because they think you are too young. When you possess

targeted intentionality, it will be amazing what will happen: resources,

opportunities, and people will come out of nowhere to help you achieve

your goal. Many people receive little help because they have no intentions.

There again, you can always be intentional and nice!

Finally, I

would tell the graduates, "Work for it." Many people learn too

late in life that no one owes us squat. Here we wait for someone to come

along and give us our heart's desire on a silver or even golden platter.

We wait and wait and wait. So, I would tell 2002 graduates not to wait

until their 30s to learn that everything they get, they must work hard

for it.

In talking

to a hard-working postal carrier about a possible mate who is a personal

friend of mine, she asked me, "Does he have a bank account?"

Indeed, it takes hard work to have a bank account, especially with some

reserves in it.

A special plaudit

to my daughter, Anna, who graduates Friday night from Starr's Mill High

School. She's a great girl, made so by a great Mom and a great Lord Jesus

Christ. Congratulations, Anna, and to all 2002 graduates. Go for it!

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor

of

River's Edge Community

Church

1091 South Jeff Davis Drive

Fayetteville, Georgia 30215

770-719-0303

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