Central Coast Youth #1 - Boredom
Last week we started a new series on On the Poddy. It's called coast youth radio. Each episode we plan to talk about a different issues for Central Coast teenagers (I'm sure it's applicable more broadly than the Central Coast). The first episode was on boredom.I've been thinking further this week about teenagers, the Central Coast and boredom. When you ask the typical non-teenager what they love about the Central Coast the answer: the lifestyle (check out this vid). People move to the Central Coast to escape the Sydney rat-race. They love that the Central Coast is so close to the biggest city in Australia... but far enough away that they feel like they are in paradise.
Why, then, do teenagers fail to see the joys of the Central Coast lifestyle? Why are they bored? Isn't the Central Coast paradise on earth? When do teenagers stop being bored and start seeing the goodness of the Central Coast lifestyle?
I don't have an answer. Maybe it's because they've been brought up on entertainment and they are now bored by their Xbox 720? Maybe their parents are enjoying the lifestyle so much that they are neglecting their teenager? Maybe they don't have an imagination? I dunno?
Ultimately - you don't come to Jesus because you are bored... but for an eternal cure to boredom - spend some time gazing upon the Lord Jesus Christ. See him. Savour him. Trust him.
Thursday, August 23, 2007 3:13:00 pm
i dont know alot about the central coast but i do an outreach camp up there about 3 times a year now and hav done for a few years now which theres one coming up and stuff and we work with the kids from DOCS and foster homes and stuff so this is diff to the average kids ur talkin about. and i think alot is to do with boredom but theres heaps up there to do what more can u put to make it less boring, so alot of that culd b the generation y fased pased chopin and changin so quikly.but i think from the kids/teens i work with on the central coast alot is the parents/foster parents, their up bringing, neglection i can go on with all the diff problems but ive typed to much already but yea we just need to go out and preach the gospel to them and mayb that boredem could be lead into them goin out and preachin the gospel every kid/teen is a future teacher top
Thursday, August 23, 2007 3:17:00 pm
sorri spellin mistake.. fast paced top
Friday, August 24, 2007 12:21:00 pm
Hey Dave,
Speaking from my experience growing up on the Coast, I think the answers are simple. Firstly, you'll be looking for different things depending on your age. Thus, while the Central Coast might be a lovely place for someone spending their "golden years", it might not be so wonderful for someone in their teens - especially if they are not a surfie. Secondly, if your a teenager, chances are that your prospects of any kind of nightlife are practically non-existent. Once someone turns 18, gets a licence and a bit of money to fritter away on a Saturday night, life on the Coast tends to become a little bit more tolerable.
Mind you, all of these insights are coming from someone who couldn't bear to be more than 10 minutes walk from the centre of the CBD at this stage of his life - I now live in a tiny room on Goulburn St and rarely feel bored! top