It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I’ve gone and come back, I’ll find it at home. ~Rumi

In this modest-sided congregation that has a religious education program that is also quite modest in attendance, we are fortunate to have seven high school seniors bridging into young adulthood this year. These good people with very busy schedules have been making their way to their little SKY (Starr King Youth) cottage for a number of years now. Although they will be welcomed to continue to attend the youth group meetings over the summer, most of them will be going away to college this fall, and the numbers of middle schoolers and their OWL program (Our Whole Lives) will very likely cause a move into the cottage, with the youth exchanging into a different building for their gatherings (please don’t quote me on this — we’re still working out the logistical details — cringe!).

All of the parents of these youth, myself included as one of them, share an immense debt of gratitude to their advisors, Dick Albert and Carol Henrie. Never once was there a question of their devotion to our children, never did they not have our teens’ soul-development and nurturance as their utmost central focus. They have been completely dedicated to these youth! I have heard parents say how their child has blossomed into the kind of person they are incredibly proud of and could only have hoped for. On the second Sunday of this month, these bridgers will share with us a bit of who they are, what they have gained, as they venture into the next stage of their lives.

As my youngest child will be one of those sharing, I know I’ll be partial in thinking this will be a great service, but I imagine that regardless of the age of your own offspring, or if even if you have none at all, you will find a bit of yourselves in these young people of Starr King Church. As much as I’m fighting it, I’m finding myself going through a painful phase, that of readying myself to be an empty nester. Yes, I will still be doing some parenting of Ron’s children, but my very own will be gone. And because of this large group of youth who are moving on, we’ll have a critical mass of other parents who will be somehow going through similar emotions.

Let’s make Starr King Church a safe place to do some of this emoting — some of it is elation at how well they’ve done — our pride is great, but there is also a large amount of grief at a period of life that is over. Carol Bodeau will be with us in the fall as Interim Director of Religious Education, and in that role, will help with planning for all ages of programming—we could organize a lunch group for young adults so that our college age folks will have reason to join us periodically. Wouldn’t that be nice? In the meantime, please share your well wishes to our graduating seniors; please allow yourself to be a listening ear to a parent who may have more than usual to share with you; and please help make a warm place for our youth to become adults.

Love Katie