Lesson Learned from Comic Con

Recently I took a road trip to rekindle some childhood memories, but came back realizing how much I have matured. I attended the Dallas Comic Con.

If asked what the best part was, I would have to say that the photo op with Nathan Fillion was not, to my surprise. Yes standing in line for nearly two hours to spend a star-struck fifteen seconds with Captain Castle for an immortalized Kodak moment was not the shiney experience I expected. The best part was the impromptu moment of conversing with "the real" Adam Baldwin, while waiting for his alter-ego John Casey to sign his autograph to a glamour shot of the man they call Jayne.

During this highlight of the event, I believe that I met a genuinely sincere person who was humbled by the likes of a person who would be willing to stand in line for hours to pay for a glimpse of a celebrity. Yet in this unexpected moment the expected, or what ought to be expected, happened. Two persons encountered one another out of mutual admiration. Not many words were spoken because sincerity and integrity were exchanged.

I made the first bold move, not by forking over the cash to his handler. I went in full steam with a friendly Texas handshake. He met me equally with a firm grip. We smiled, exchanged pleasantries, and then this famous actor put aside his red-carpet celebrity status and became a real person. Though he had in hand the glamour shot that I spent a lot of money to have him scribble a standard message on, Mr. Baldwin stopped in that moment to spend a genuine encounter with me, Mr. Husband. Having explained my wants for what I paid for, he took time to ask about my sick wife who couldn't be there for her autograph. With soft-spoken sincerity, he shifted the contracted conversation into just two normal guys sharing about life. Sure eventually I got what I paid for, but that free moment of unexpectedly sharing life was awesome. And that's when I learned my lesson, though I didn't realize it until much later the next day.

Perhaps I was naive going into this situation. Yet had I not had that youthful excitement, I would not have learned my lesson that I share with you. Enjoy everyday life because waiting for a glimpse of a celebrity is boring. Real people can surprise you. Fame is not extraordinary, normal life is.

Prime Time for Catechesis

Last week on behalf of the company that I work for, I gave a presentation on adolescent spirituality in West Orange, New Jersey. In my presentation I offered three unique aspects of the adolescent. The adolescent person uniquely deals with:

1. "shifting experiences"
• The adolescent no longer experiences "elementary" schooling nor is he or she yet ready for "high school." The adolescent person has one foot in each realm while realizing he or she really does not belong in either.
2. "emerging relationships"
• The adolescent is dealing with hormonal changes that result in a greater interest in persons of the other gender. The adolescent person also is awakening to a deeper understanding of his or her own body and so the topic of body image is crucial to self-identity.
3. "maturing activities"
• The adolescent has begun to consciously decided to become more intently involved in extra-curricular activities, such as athletics, performing arts, and the like. The adolescent person is solidifying particular skills and talents for the first time, often in these areas. 

Because of the unique situation of the adolescent life, the teenager is "prime time" for catechesis. The average teen seeks to be a "faith hero" because he or she seeks to go beyond self for something greater than self. If the adolescent person lacks the skills of spiritual discernment during this time, he or she is likely to find a source of spiritual "strength" in cultural idols, such as a celebrity. In these unfortunate circumstances, this teen will turn inward, like his or her celebrity idol, and begin to seek societal approval instead of cultural relevance. Therefore one of the crucial areas for adolescent catechesis is a solid foundation in spiritual formation that includes a discernment process.

In my presentation, I also made a plea for all schools and parishes to offer ballroom dance lessons as part of their catechetical program for young teens. Such lessons would provide confidence in self-identity, sensitivity for the other gender and his or her body, and a healthy, deeper, and mature means of communication. If schools and parishes intentionally develop programs with adolescent spirituality in mind, we might no longer be surprised by the heroic decisions teenagers are capable and willing to make, if we direct them toward the true, good, and beautiful.