Nothing Goes Without SayingHow often do we think to ourselves things like “She knows I love her—it goes without saying” or “He knows how much I appreciate all his hard work – it goes without saying”? The truth is, words can be a powerful affirmation, and the absence of the right words can leave a void that really hurts. The truth is, very little goes without saying, and the important things should NEVER go without saying. There are things we know, but sometimes we need to hear them loud and clear. During the 10am service on Sunday April 23, we celebrated an important rite of passage with some of our 7th and 8th graders. This group is named Rite-13 after the special liturgy that we celebrated with them on this day. In some respects, this is a new way of saying to our young people things we have meant to convey all along –things like “We stand with you as you make your way on the journey; we’re here if you need us; we think you are terrific; we love you.” We often assume that our teens feel appreciated and accepted as a vital part of the congregation, but adolescence can be such a time of uncertainty that some things just can’t be said often enough.
One of the unique aspects of the Journey to Adulthood program is that it seeks to provide rites of passage that are often lacking in our culture. We help define points along the path to adulthood that tell our young people they are making progress; they are growing; they are becoming adults. Rite-13 is the liturgical cornerstone that lays the foundation for the entire congregation of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church to rise up and in one mighty voice tell our young people. “You matter to us. Your lives are of inestimable value. The journey you are now embarking on is significant.” It is a way that we fulfill our baptismal covenant of “seeking and serving Christ in all persons.” The Rite-13 Liturgy is a rite of passage that recognizes the gift that God bestows upon each one of us; the gift of manhood or womanhood. This is a free gift that we cannot earn and need not prove. This gift is the essence of who we are. The same energy that pushes us through adolescence gives us the power to change the world. As these young people grow and mature, their knowledge and skills will increase, but the core of who they are remains the same.
Here was a priceless opportunity for us to affirm all that is good in the young people who live and grow around and to recognize them as young men and women in our midst. We didn’t miss this incredible chance to say out loud in a very powerful way what we have meant to say to them all along. Remember, Nothing Goes Without Saying!!
Carter Potts, Senior and |
