Why do teens like to stay up so late? What is it about the night that entices activism? Why do more teens stay up late instead of going to bed early? It's an interesting question. My theory is that teens don't like to end things so staying up late is one way of doing that. Haha, as I post this blog it is at 3:36 AM. So, now you understand where this question came from.

Oh well, it's one of the mysteries we shall never really know.

On a hill in the middle of a forest, stands a lone compass. The hill this compass is located on is taller than all the trees around it, so it has a view for as far as the eye can see. This compass is a magical compass. As all normal compasses point north, this one is different in the fact that it shows the way to whatever you ask it to.

Now this compass gets quite a few visitors. The compass has answered so many questions, that most of them boil down to "where is the best place to dig for gold, where do I go from here to be successful,"and other greedy, or prideful questions. But there is one day that stands out that the compass really remembers.

In the fall one day, right when the leaves are at it's peak, a teenager is out walking through the woods searching for the compass that he has heard so much about. Eventually he finds it and when he gets there, he asked it, "I could ask you, what am I going to be doing in my life...Or how to be successful. But the thing is, I want to do something different. But instead, I want my future education to have a purpose to help something, someone, out. I want to be a difference. Now the compass has never heard this one before. Usually with these teenagers, it's "where do I go from here" and the compass would point to a university that is on the horizon, or if they are carrying it, some books. The compass thinks for a while and points off in the distance. In the distance, a giant globe located on top of a library is slowly turning. When the compass points, it is showing the continent of Africa. The boy looks up, inspired, thanks the compass and runs off into the woods.

Later that day, a couple come strolling about. These are newly-weds that are deeply in love with each other. A couple hours earlier they decided to take a walk through the woods to admire the beauty, and each other. Eventually they reach the hill with the compass. They walk up to the compass and the man asks, "what should I always love?" The compass thinks this is a great question because the compass loves love. But usually the question is from a young adult or teen, "who should I pursue?". The compass has gotten sick of people always relying on it for things that they should find out for themselves. The compass instantly points at the man's wife. The man and the wife quite pleased with this answer walk off in the woods, hand-in-hand.

Eventually the evening comes. The compass loves the evening because of the beauty of the setting sun. With where it's located on the hill, the compass can see how the sky looks like it's burning, and how the sun is so red, and awe-inspiring. But he hears something. A crying sound. Soon the compass sees a little boy running out of the woods. The little boy had just been at his mom's funeral. She had died two days ago to cancer. The boy left alone without a mother had taken it hard. And that evening after the funeral he went in search of the compass for answers. When the boy got to the compass, wiping tears off his eyes, he asked it, "compass, where is my mother." The compass stood still. When it get's asked a question, it knows the answers and what has happened instantly. He knew how the boy felt. He knew how grieved he was. The compass has never been asked this question as well. He knew the answer to the boys question. But it's different to answer the question that doesn't relate to death. The compass still has to answer the boys question, so even though it didn't want to do this, it slowly points up into the sky, right above the beauty of the setting sun. The little boy looks up where the compass points, and in a small voice says, "I am going to miss you mom."

When you look at a person, how do you actually see them. For instance. You look at a person who looks to be the "thrill of the party". Does that usually mean he/she is?

Not everyone is as they appear. For instance. That person MAY be the "thrill of the party" but they also might have another face to them. They love to be the thrill of the party, but they might think and feel differently. Or take a quiet person. They might be really quiet, but does that mean that they don't feel anything? Completely not. They might just be someone who listens. Those Are the people who listens to everything and comments when they think it is needed. Those also usually come across as awkward. But they have a lot more to them then it appears. Also there is a third group (at least that I can think of). These are the "studious/nerd" group. Yes they look like they might be the brains behind everything, but they might wish to be more outgoing or thoughtful. Usually in settings the "nerds" come across as the rejection group (homeschoolers accept them though ;)). And as you get to know them, yes they probably are super intelligent, but they also care and wish people would accept them more for who they are, and not what they look like.

Basically this entire blog is...NEVER judge a person by they appearance and how they might seem to act when you first meet them. Because there is a lot more to them then it appears. Just because a person acts differently then you doesn't mean they still care, love, enjoy things, whatever.

Keep striving, and just try to make a difference. We all have a different face. It's expressing our "opposite" side that is our challenge.

We all got together as a group. A place we could share, laugh, love, hang out, live. We talked about the future. We played, swam, worked on school. We were the group. The group stayed together and continued on. Persevering at whatever challenges came their way. Some struggled, most succeeded. We supported each other. We helped each other grow. But there is a time we had to split apart. As we each go to our own red-lights, we branch off in different directions. Driving away in our own sunsets. Some of us might be going just back to their houses, some to work, some to school. There might even be some you never see again. Some will become great people. Some might become co-workers. You might lose contact with a lot. We all have our own movie ending sunset. The one we drive off to. The group that came together has to split apart eventually. It might be hard, but it is inevitable. Life just is calling most of us and saying "c'mon, it's time for you to leave". When you hit that red-light and see the others branching away, you might think of it as mediocre, but that's the place you really shows that things won't ever be the same. As we drive off to our own sunsets, I only have one question. Are you ready?