Growing So To Help Others

I am currently in the middle of “The Rise of Superman” by Steven Kotler.  It shares his research over what happens when a person exhibits mastery over a skillset in a very specific moment of time.  He uses, as anecdotes, a sizable dosage of extreme sports–skiing, surfing, skateboarding, and rock climbing–and how, within the course of the last decade, world records, those that had stayed stagnent for centuries, these are now being broken with amazing regularity. It makes for a fascinating study.

One of the points he makes is that these exceptional athletes always find a way to challenge themselves, to go into new quarters. He gets that there needs to be a sizable percentage of improvement, say, a 4% increase, each time.  If you strive to do too much, you will get burnt out.  If you strive to do too little, you will be spinning your wheels.  To Kotler, 4 percent is that sweet spot.

I am sharing this because for the time being, I feel like I am branching into new territory, and this is exciting.  I am working diligently to craft a resource for Catholic youth ministry.  I am passionate about this subject matter, because I am passionate about youth.  And I have noticed that much of our youth today are searching, are open, and would gladly embrace the fullness of the Christian life that God has prepared for them, but due to circumstances outside of their control, it is altogether too easy to be ignorant of such.

I also recognize that as life happens, people make choices that could either continue one’s path towards holiness, or put themselves in a complicated situation that hinders it greatly.  Guilt and regret settle in, for choices made that, had they known, they would have chosen differently.

That is why youth ministry is so important.  Even if you’re no longer a youth, or are well beyond those years, that is the sweet-spot in time where they can begin to fully understand what it means to be a follower of Christ, and do so before such series of choices are presented, choices that would considerably alter their life paths, and possibly lead to regret–not just for the sake of themselves, but also for their future families and children.

One of those circumstances outside a youth’s control happens to be the precarious state of youth ministry, in which there is (depending upon the resource) a 1 to 2 year turnover rate of youth ministers today.  Can you imagine?  Going to high school and having to establish a new relationship with your parish’s youth minister each and every year?  Burnout is extreme.  Young adults on fire for the gospel gladly accept the opportunity to serve their parishes, only to feel disgruntled and bitter after being put through the ringer–getting flack from the parish council, the parents, the pastor, and the students themselves.

As I work to entertain/catechize youth today, and pray that they come to know and embrace the fullness of the gospel, I know that the youth ministers whom I work with, they are taking the brunt of the workload.  They are at the front lines.  And even in a situation where everything clicks into place, and the group is on fire, that is only temporal; once the kids move to college, a new group comes in, and this group may have a different dynamic than before.

So as I work with youth ministers, I pick up what their struggles are, what their needs are, and I am most concerned that they do not give up.  I have amassed a number of ideas, of helps, that could greatly increase a youth minister’s productivity, so that they can be continually aflame, and not burn out.  And that ultimately the youth would be able to hear and embrace the gospel, in a manner that they could understand it, and have their rising tumult of skeptical questions being answered, in love and action.

And so this brings me back to that 4%.  I am growing in skills I’ve not yet attained.  I’ve had to learn a new software called Scrivener, which is considered to be the best word processing software out there.  I have learned how to collate information, do research and craft a detailed outline.  And I have a goal to have this accomplished within a short time frame, within five months.

And all the while, I still hope to put out new podcasts and provide content that will speak to you, whether or not you share this passion that I have beheld.  It’s just that, as I am learning these skills, I am crafting a new routine that will ultimately put me up to speed.  Be patient.

On top of this, I have been asked to do a series of talks for a Catholic charismatic young adult conference, and, also lead a senior high retreat, both in neighboring New Jersey.  And on top of this, I still hold the day job, and have family needs to care for.  So my plate is full.

But I have high expectations that within due time, my routine will click in, and I will be able to master this stage where I currently am at.

Do you want to help?  You can, and it won’t take long.  If you haven’t yet, please take my survey in regards to the state of youth ministry, as you see it, irregardless of where you are at. Because the choices of the next generation are pivotal to society, not only for the future, but for right now.