MESSAGE FROM PETE
November 2007

FROM THE METROPOLIS YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRIES OFFICE

Being Successful in the iGENERATION

By Pete Sotiras, Director

These days being a teenager has a lot of pressures in life.  I just finished reading an article on parenting and I was amazed to discover how much has changed even when I was a kid.  The article was about how some parents are over involved in their kids’ life.  It’s not that they mean harm; it’s just that they really want their kids to succeed at all costs.  They have everything planned for them—everything from SAT prep courses, practices, recitals, games, etc.  The list goes on and on.  There’s nothing wrong to strive to excel in whatever you do.  It’s when you’re willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal that you will start to experience problems.  The point is that many of you are over-programmed and may feel the pressure to succeed.    

With the pressure to succeed comes the temptation to do whatever it takes, even at the expense of character, values and integrity.   It’s easy to see that our own society believes in a “do whatever it takes to succeed” attitude.  Steroids in sports; corruption amongst political leaders; cheating in college; these are just a few examples of how the end result has justified the means in our society.  Why should we be different?  Why should character, values and integrity get in the way of getting good grades, a good job, a good boyfriend or girlfriend, or getting into a good university?

Our Lord tells us to place the Kingdom of God first in our lives, to seek the Kingdom of God and all things will fall into place.  The Kingdom of God is all about character, values and integrity and we put the kingdom of God first by playing sports according to the rules, by being honest with our friends and family, by studying hard and resisting the temptation of cheating.  We put the Kingdom of God first when we stop gossip when we hear it, or when we give up our time to go with our GOYA group to visit the elderly at a Retirement Home.  There are many ways we put the Kingdom of God first.  

But, you might tell me, that by doing these things, we will not “succeed” in life.  If we remember, our Lord was not a success according to the standards of the world.  He sought to bring peace, hope and truth to everyone He encountered, yet He still was put on the Cross.  Being Orthodox is not a guarantee towards success as the world sees it, but you will be successful in God’s eyes.  When we put character, values and integrity first, we will experience the grace, power and peace of God.  Our Lord told us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest, for my burden is easy and my yoke is light” (Matt. 11:28; 30).  By putting the Kingdom first, by going to Christ, we will truly be successful and we will not be overcome by any kind of pressure. 

[Youth and their families can contact Pete at: sfyouth@sanfran.goarch.org.  You can also view and download this article from the Metropolis Youth webpage at: http://www.youth.sanfran.goarch.org/]