The Problem
Modern society moves fast, and seems to speed up from one generation to the next. As technology “liberates” us from some mundane chores, the fast food restaurant may represent the direction our country is headed: short stops that seem cheap and convenient but are costly on many levels. People wake up early, skip breakfast and race to a day of multitasking, sitting at computers, calling, emailing and texting on smart phones, hitting the drive-through for a quick bite, and running errands before heading to stores or home to TV and a little family time. So as people face their careers, responsibilities and complexities of life, it can be difficult to reflect, nurture, restore or deepen relationships with loved ones, friends, colleagues and our own God. Certainly, it is our children who bear the brunt of this lifestyle. Media packages life into convenient sound bites and pound them with millions of messages to look, buy or become rich and beautiful – a thin person, a model, a sports icon, a movie star, a millionaire. Meanwhile, their lives are becoming sedentary. Virtual reality is more accessible than a neighborhood game of kickball. Childhood obesity is on a scary upward trajectory, yet most adults don’t have the time or knowledge to role model proper exercise and diet habits. Traditional family structures are also changing, where a rise in divorce, parents with long days or distances from work, single parents or guardians who are often short on time, money or energy to adequately enrich their children’s lives. Economic factors continue to challenge parents to work longer and harder, sacrificing precious time with their children. And quality after-school, weekend or holiday programs are often too expensive for families who have other priorities for their paychecks.
