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“I can’t do this!” cried Tammi as she burst into tears. “I just can’t do this!”
Staff, patients and visitors watched helplessly as Tammi broke down during her therapy session. She was finally beginning to realize just how devastating and permanent her spinal cord injury was. And it seemed more than she could bear.
Working with trauma survivors like Tammi has introduced me to a world of pain and suffering that thousands of individuals endure every day. Whether their injuries involve brain damage, broken bones or internal injuries, these patients and their families come to realize just how fragile we humans are.
Unfortunately, this realization comes a little too late for some young people. And scientists believe they know why.
The incomplete teenage mind
Current neuroscience research indicates teenagers take risks, ignore consequences and often fail to think things through because their brains are still maturing. In fact, studies show brain development may continue 10 years beyond adolescence or longer in some cases.
As Gargi Talukder of Stanford University explains, “The frontal lobes of the brain have been implicated in behavioral inhibition, the ability to control emotions and impulses. The frontal lobes are also thought to be the place where decisions about right and wrong, as well as cause-effect relationships, are processed. In contrast, the amygdala is part of the limbic system of the brain and is involved in instinctive ‘gut’ reactions, including ‘fight or flight’ responses.”
Researchers found that adults have more activity in their frontal lobes than do teenagers. So while adults should be able to use logic and reason when facing emotional decisions, adolescent brains are not yet fully equipped to think through things in the same way. Consequently, our emotions often get the better of us.
Dangers of car surfing
One example of impulsive behavior that has gained popularity among teens and young adults is car surfing. Also called ghost riding or in Australia ‘ute surfing, typically young drivers allow other young friends to ride outside or on top of their moving vehicles. With all-to-frequent regularity news reports are filed about youth who are injured or killed performing such dangerous and frankly foolish endeavors.
Those who engage in this type of risky behavior just do not realize how fragile they are and how quickly things can go wrong. The head and spine are completely vulnerable to a traumatic injury, even at very low speeds. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to break your back to become permanently paralyzed from a spinal cord injury. Likewise, helmets worn by motorcyclists and others only protect against skull fractures—not brain injuries caused by the forces of inertia within the skull.
How frail are we?
Long ago, a famous king wrote about the temporary nature of human existence. Although he had been a great warrior and had “cheated death” numerous times, he recognized he was not invincible. In Psalm 39:4, King David recorded the following prayer: “LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am.”
Vertical thinkers would do well to listen to their parents, older siblings and other adults when they express loving concern about the dangers of risky behavior. Although the thrill of the moment may seem attractive at the time, it’s not worth the pain and suffering that may result.
Read Keys to a Long, Healthy Life to learn more about how you can live life as God intended. And never forget how frail we are as humans. VT
- About the Author -
Sean Yarbrough lives with his wife, Kristin, and daughter, Katie, in Tampa, Florida. He works as a home health occupational therapist and is active in the United Church of God.
Free money—AWESOME!
But can we actually get something for nothing? There’s always a catch or a consequence lurking around the corner ready to dash the thrill.
Such is currently the case with America’s economic stimulus package. It entails giving $168 billion worth of tax rebate checks, from $300 to $1,200, to citizens in hopes that the money will be spent on products to encourage growth in the economy to avoid a recession. Those checks are now in the mail.
However, “Economists are debating how effective the rebates will be, with critics arguing that debt-burdened consumers will use the money to pay bills rather than spending the checks and spurring growth” (foxnews.com). Hmm, that sounds like responsible spending to me.
Whether these checks will be helpful for the economy or not, time will tell. But there is one major catch to this “free” money. The government doesn’t have the extra cash to give away.
To fund the stimulus package the United States will borrow the money from various foreign lenders like China. Thus it will go further in debt to create a short-term solution and once again push aside that whole deficit thing. The U.S. budget deficit for 2008 is projected to nearly double that of last year (newsmax.com).
The real kicker with the stimulus package is that even if Americans spend their checks, a huge percentage of consumer products available to buy are actually made in China. That sounds awfully stimulating, but for the Chinese more than the American economy!
The irony is that overspending and out-of-control debt at serious levels helped get the American economy into this problem in the first place.
So what can we do?
We can critically analyze the political and economic problems that exist wherever we live and make sure that we don’t let societal trends and national mistakes happen in our personal lives.
To be successful personally and nationally, we need divine guidance.
God gave us a guidebook for success and happiness—the Bible. As our Creator, He knows what we need. He shows how we should live in order to be prosperous and happy. Even if governments and society around us continue to reject God, we can still ask for His help to learn His ways and enjoy the benefits!
God and your success
God wants you and me to succeed, to value what He values. His formula: “Do not turn from it [His law] to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go… Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7-9).
Be brave and think vertically. Learn to apply biblical principles in your life. When it comes to stimulating your own personal economy, avoid debt and make wise choices. Also, read this fascinating free booklet Managing Your Finances.
Whether or not the United States will avoid a recession (or worse) in the short term remains to be seen, but all of us in the younger generations will bear the long-term consequences of national debt and current overspending.
Wouldn’t it be better to be indebted only to God and know that true success comes from His loving and perfect guidance? VT
- About the Author -
Keri Sanders, her husband, Adam, and three young daughters attend the United Church of God in Columbus, Ohio.
