Snow "Impressions"

A couple weeks back I enjoyed watching the Dordt Women's soccer team play at home. It was a well-fought game and it came down to penalty kicks which I had never seen before but enjoyed! Sadly they lost but that's not what this post is about.

As I sat freezing my butt off on the metal bleachers, I observed a group of young men sitting a few seats below me. They were there to watch the game and were generally good-natured. Very friendly with each other, they threw snowballs and tackled each other into the snow, making "impressions".

Speaking of impressions, I also observed a young man sitting about 10 feet away from them. He appeared to be 16 and was quite intent on watching the other boys' activities. I didn't really pay any attention until their conversation took a turn for the immoral! I just sat there in utter amazement as this young, impressionable boy absorbed what I can only assume he thought was "cool behavior". And why shouldn't he think it's cool; the boys are older, confident and in public. It's very natural for this young man to assume that what they're doing is okay.

I'm not judging the college boys, nor do I think it's wrong for a young man to watch other people in public. I can't judge because at the same soccer game I shouted something that was quite inappropriate. Then as I was leaving I had the above recollections which sparked the following questions:

Are we consciously aware of what sort of messages we're sending to others?
Do we constantly rethink our behavior in light of how it might influence the next generation or even our own peers?
Do we care more about ourselves and having fun than we care about encouraging others and showing Christ to others?

I ask these questions as someone who's just as guilty as anybody else. Like the motto of my website says "We've all got our wild (and perhaps sinful) side. Figured you might want to hear about mine...and maybe learn from it! We've all got a place in God's world. Figured you might want to hear about mine...and maybe learn from it!"