A group of boys walked past me along the trail. They looked to be part of a PE class from a nearby junior high.
One boy asks another, “If your girl sent you a video of her cutting herself would you break up with her?”
The other boy, one of four, said, “Most definitely.”
Two girls walking, likely late teens maybe early twenties, were discussing a new app one of them found that rates girls by a number of stars. The more stars, the more desirable the girl.
I wonder what goes on in the minds of the young these days. Overwhelmed by social media, peers evaluating their every move and every look, drowning in darkness, where do they turn for help?
I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.Psalm 121:1-2 The Message
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
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The Devotional Guy™ 
Our inner lives are often starving for conversation, David. I will look for the article you mentioned. Terri and I just met our new neighbors yesterday. They’ve been very elusive—we weren’t sure anyone actually lived there. These days, it’s hard to tell, given the 24/7 nature of work. And physical conversations do seem rarer or at least more awkward than they used to be since we’ve gone digital. Thanks for this thought-provoking comment. I’m just now starting to catch up. Have a blessed week!
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I saw a brief video with former NY Times columnist David Brooks, where he shared troubling polling data about Gen Z. Essentially, the polls show that younger generations trust people far less than older ones do. This goes for strangers, neighbors, and even family members. People don’t really talk to each other much anymore. It’s swipe left or right or give someone a star rating. Everything is based on the external, while our inner lives dry up on the vine. The world needs more salt and light!
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Yes, it does—at least it did me—as I continued on my walk, I found myself thinking about it. I decided to give witness to it, although I don’t have more to add in the way of answers or wisdom at the moment. Pointing back to Jesus seems like the one thing I can do in this instance.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on this, Willie. Blessings 🙏
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This really makes you stop and think. It’s sad to see how much pressure and confusion young people are growing up with today, especially with social media shaping how they see themselves and others. I appreciate how you pointed back to where real strength comes from, God, not the noise around us.
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