Character Counts?

I spent some time last semester volunteering at the local high school. I try to do this at the beginning of every year because it allows me to connect with the administration, students, and often meet parents.

This year I sat at a table making copies of utility bills so that the school could verify residency in the district and occasionally made small talk with the student and their parent. It was a fairly uneventful few days but the relationships that are fostered are well worth the time.

Last Spring I was invited to be on a task force to address the issue of bullying in the schools. Really it was to address the issue of character and respect for those around you and a result of that would be that bullying would be less likely to happen.

With that conversation in the back of my mind it really stood out to me when I was sitting at my table and one of the principles brought around cold drinks to all the volunteers and staff working registration. It wasn’t a cart of drinks  that had just been sitting out, it was iced down cold cokes and water that someone had taken the time to prepare for a refreshing afternoon thirst quencher. To me that was a pretty big deal. Then another day, I and several others were staying through lunch and another principle came around asking if we wanted pizza and a drink and bringing it out to those of us that never turn down a free meal.

This may not sound like a big deal to you but I believe it is and here’s why. If we as a culture see that students are having difficulty recognizing how to respect those around them and what it means to be a person of character, we have to first look in the mirror and see if we are modeling those traits for them. Whether they realized it or not, that is what these principles were doing, modeling. There were many students there the last day registering and helping out, and for them to see that even the principles (the authority) were willing to serve those around them is a really BIG deal.

Going through this school year my hope is that you will look for ways to serve those around you and realize that a BIG part of what you are doing is modeling what it means to respect others and to have character. In all this you are choosing to Live Life Better and at the same time you are making someone else’s life better as well.

Columbine Redemption

Well I am finally sitting down to write a blog about our Columbine Redemption event this past Saturday night. For starters here are some comments I heard after the event was over, (not necessarily quoted word for word)

“WOW, that was awesome!”

“We really need to have this at our school.”

“When is Darrell coming back?”

“What an amazing story!”

“I wish more people had been here to hear this.”

Well you just may get your chance. TL is already looking at the possibility of bringing a speaker from CR back to the area in the fall. In order to pull this off we need to get people on board sooner than later, so if you are interested in being involved leave a comment and let me know.

As for the evening, it was great! We had a good crowd and Darrell, of course, shared an amazing story. I have already posted in an earlier blog about what I heard at Richland High School Rachel’s Challenge Assembly but I want to share what stood out this time just the same.

Here are just a couple of highlights from this presentation. First, Darrell is amazing to listen to. To think that he, as a father, is able to share their story (the story of the death of his daughter) is amazing. His strength, or as he would say his weakness and strength in Christ, is amazing to see and hear. Second, I love that he only shares facts and truths from his own story. He does not make judgements on the shooters, he does not share frustrations he faced toward media or administration, etc. He only shares the faith that Rachel has and how it has impacted his family, in successes and failures. Third, is simply Rachel’s amazing faith. She exemplified what it is to be a Christian, even befriending a very anti-religious (self-proclaimed) student that would argue with almost anyone else…except Rachel.

These just a few, there is so much more. If you get a chance you definitely want to see a presentation by Columbine Redemption, you NEED to take it. If you have a chance and you don’t take someone with you, you will regret it and eagerly wait for the next opportunity you have to share it with someone, anyone, who hasn’t heard it.

If you have the time check out there website to learn more, here it is again www.columbineredemption.com. Or search YouTube and search for Rachel’s Challenge.

Side note: Be sure to browse our website. It is new as of May 8th, redesigned by The Marketing Twins and it is really cool. Any feedback is also greatly appreciated as we continue to update, maintain, and improve what we now have.

An Offering of Hope

As Teen Lifeline looks for news ways to impact the community we have been given a great opportunity to see a difference made. This spring area schools hosted a speaking program called Rachel’s Challenge. Carroll ISD and Richland High School have hosted this program and have been greatly impacted by the story that is told. After hearing this presentation at RHS I knew that it was something Teen Lifeline wanted to be involved in in the future. Little did I know it would be this soon. In talking to the staff at Rachel’s Challenge, we decided to do a couple of things that fit best for us.
Being a faith based organization ourselves, we decided to go with the faith based side of their organization which is Columbine Redemption. This is the same story but also tells of the faith that has helped the Scott family get through.

Please join us this Saturday for an amazing presentation by Darrell Scott, father to Rachel one of the Columbine victims. We will be at the Richland Hills Church @ 7:00 PM.

If you have a story to share about a connection you have to Columbine share it in the comments. After this weekend I will post how things go and ask for feedback from those of you that attended.

Continuing the pursuit of a Life Lived Better.