Wonder Power

While working with the teen addicts the other evening, I asked them to tell the group what they wondered about? What did they want to understand better? Did they ask a lot of ‘why’ questions? If so, what topics were they seeking information on?

One teen said she wondered about the future, what it would be like. She also admitted she worried about the future. Another wondered what his first job would be after all of his educational plans have been accomplished. Another wondered if there was life after death? Someone else wondered where she came from before birth, and will go to after death? Are our souls or selves some kind of cogent being moving from one personhood to another over the course of time? And if so, what would that experience be like? Yet another teen emphatically said he didn’t wonder.

The odd thing about the evening’s discussion is this: I had been asked not to press the teens for their life plans – education wants and interests, the likelihood of specific career paths, that sort of thing. I was told this might place too much pressure and expectation on the kids and create other problems. So I demurred.

However, I read an article on what kind of people one should hire for their business if they want a firm that will be forward looking, adaptable to change, and decidedly inventive. The answer is: hire people who actively wonder about all sorts of things. Such people are open minded, expansive in their thinking, seek new challenges and readily create new processes and products to solve problems. Moreover, these people tend to be long-term thinkers and avoid short term solutions.

These folks would be less clerical and more strategic thinkers. Furthermore, it was asserted they would make excellent team members because they naturally reach out to others to gain more perspective, knowledge and understanding.

That’s why I asked the kids what they wondered about. Just how curious were they about the world they inhabit? Might these topics be good platforms to build on for their self-knowledge and educational push forward?

The fellow who claimed he didn’t wonder at all is likely to end up doing tasks for others and not being very inventive or adaptable. Those who wondered about after-death experiences and the possibility of same, will likely be more philosophical and creative in their thinking. Some will be downright religious!  That’s a good thing for those prepared for it; more challenging if they are not prepared or willing to do the theological wrestling required.

All in all, though, these young people kept the discussion alive for nearly an hour and took it seriously. That alone is an achievement! Pulling and prodding them toward the future with mature instincts and purpose is quite the challenge. But the more we get to know each other the better the relationship and discussion value.

Progress. Progress is hopefully being made.

April 18, 2017