ADDICTED TO HYPE

Written by Flemlyn A. Ragobeer

About 15 years ago as a Youth-worker a young lady asked to speak with me. She shared many things one of which was that she did not have a testimony. Her life was FLAT, ORDINARY and BORING.

The more I listened the more I realized what she meant was that she had not lived a LOOSE and RECKLESS LIFE; and as we say in my culture, “she did not do de gods”. Up until then she did not go ALL THE WAY, she was still a virgin and had no real baggage to talk about. She did not have a FLAMBOYANT story to capture attention and she was very sad.

There are many lessons I drew from that exchange and I did take time to share with, encourage and even warn that sweet girl. However, today I want to encourage us from the opposite side.

I believe in many ways we add pressure to PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELONG. Everyone is born with that need. However, the way we sometimes GLAMORIZE dysfunction, failure, wrongs and even pain is not helpful. Some feel they have to RETURN FROM THE DEAD before their life is also noticed and celebrated. This can encourage lies and a full stunts, living on the edge kind of life. I know we are amazed at how people triumph in hardship but I believe we must EQUALLY celebrate those who; in spite of the pull of peer pressure, our own desire for wrong doing and the evils of this world, manage through God’s grace to HOLD IT UP and STAY STRONG!

Scripture teaches about leading a peaceable and quiet life in all godliness minding your own business. Even for BROKEN people with a ‘TESTIMONY’, which many of us enjoy hearing about; it is to a peaceable and quiet life God is leading them. More is achieved in peace than can ever be in chaos.

Friends, we need more EXAMPLES of people making it! More of our young people including virgins; male and female need to be ESTEEMED as well. They are AMONG US! Let us celebrate LIFE in this way and take a load off those who feel they need to ENTERTAIN us before we think their life makes sense.

Praying for hope for us all in the midst of trying times.

With love and grace.

#OceansofHope #Ooh