Exam Season
13 May 2010
Big news in our household recently…24 is soon to be no more. Iconic insomniac Jack Bauer, star of the hugely popular and successful 24 TV show, is set to be retired after American network Fox cancelled the show after eight seasons.
This is truly upsetting news, over the past few years Jack has provided Hannah and I with many hours of nail-biting fun (not sure that’s the right word to be honest), we would even occasionally catch an episode on DVD before heading off to Church – gasp!
As a youth leader, 24 has given me countless opportunities for discussion points, preaching examples and more. We have used everything from “what would you do if you really believed in something? How far would you be prepared to go?” right through to discussions about resurrection – Jack has “died” more than once! It’s a sad day but at least he may be able to catch up on some sleep now…
Speaking of sleep, I read this week that researchers from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York have linked lack of sleep to depression in teenagers. Apparently, going to bed earlier protects teenagers against depression and suicidal thoughts. The report found that of 15,500 12-18 year olds studied, those who went to bed after midnight were 24% more likely to have depression than those who went before ten o’clock. And those who slept fewer than five hours a night had a 71% higher risk of depression than those who slept eight hours.
And this got me thinking. Why is it that young people today suffer depression at all? The answer, I believe, has something to do with the intense pressure we put them under. Young people lead incredibly hectic lives and, despite what many think, are actually under a great deal of pressure to perform. As we enter into exam season this pressure to perform, to get the grades, to make sure that potential is fulfilled, is greater than ever.
Why? Why do thousands of young people feel under pressure to achieve? I think it’s to do with where we put our hope and what we put our trust in. It’s to do with what our priorities are, what we consider to be the most important things in life.
When our security is placed in getting the grades, getting the university place, the first class honours degree, the amazing job or high-flying career, then the pressure to get it right at GCSE and A-level is great (and for good reason). A world that places its hope in our own achievement that places its trust in education is also, sadly, a world where depression amongst teenagers is rife. Young people come under a lot of pressure during the exam season, particularly from parents, who, wanting the best for their child often fail to see the bigger picture.
Sadly, Christians are not immune to this either. In fact, in my experience, Christian parents are just as bad (if not worse). And how tragic is that? After all, are we not called to be different, in the world but not of the world? Putting our hope and trust in exam results, university places, degrees that open doors and pathways for future careers is, I believe, damaging to our young people. Education is not the answer to a fulfilled life.
Yes it is important and yes I tell the young people in Root61 to work hard and do their best with the talents and gifts that God has given them but, at the end of the day, is getting straight A’s at the expense of health (physical and spiritual), happiness, real friendships and enjoying your teenage years, really worth it? Does putting all of your hope in education leave your life fulfilled? And so the question that I ask our young people at this time is “what is your priority in life? Where are your foundations? What is your chief end?”
The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarises it nicely in its very first question and answer: “What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."
Please don’t hear what I’m not saying! Exam results are important, making the most of your academic ability is important, working head and achieving the best you can do is important but it should not be the most important thing in your life. Loving God and pursuing his justice, mercy and faithfulness, this is to be our chief end.
The challenge to young people is what is your chief end? What are you putting your hope in? Pursue God, glorify him, trust him but don’t make that an excuse for being lazy and not working hard!
The challenge for parents is that you have to do more than agree to this, you have to live it. You have to do more than tell it to your children, you have to be an example of it to them.
The challenge to youth leaders, like myself, is that I have to strike the balance, recognizing that in order to make the most of God given ability, time revising is important! And so Church life should not become all-consuming during exam season.
Psalm 147:10-11 tells us, “His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man, the Lord delights in those who fear him and put their hope in his unfailing love." It is not that legs/brains/musical/sporting ability/insert as appropriate are unimportant. It does delight God for us to use the gifts he has given. But what truly delights him is those whose hope is not in their brain power, speed, beauty, strength or wisdom, but in his unfailing love.
This exam season, let’s turn to him, the author and perfector of our faith more than ever before. And get some sleep!
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