The joy of a priest is to see his parishioners doing great and living out the gospel’s truth. But if anything is bothering them, definitely it will also affect the priest because both are like a body, whatever happens to the part of the body also affects the entire body. 

In recent time, what I heard some of our youths proclaiming with their mouth is totally different from what the Psalmist says it should be. The Psalmist says on the lips of the children and of babes, I have found your praise Lord. For the sake of this write up, I will like to categorize the children to mean the youths. What I have noticed recurring on the lips of some of our youths and little adolescents is giving me restless night and I think it is apt to pen it down.

Do not be surprised when I say that the latest slogan for many of our youths now is “Fr I am bored or mum I am bored”. Mind you, this is not just a testimony of one or two or five youths, but many young people. When it started, I thought I was the only one experiencing this challenge, but when I consulted some of my brother priests and the same complaint was registered, I couldn’t help myself than to spur into action before it is too late.

Though, it was difficult for me to comprehend that this generation can complain of boredomness because mere looking at today’s world, where social media and gadgets reign supreme, you would think that boredom would be a relic of the past. Yet, despite having an endless array of entertainment options at our fingertips, many of us are still plagued by the nagging feeling of boredom. It is as if we are stuck in a rut, unable to find meaning or purpose in our lives. Social media platforms, designed to connect us with others, often leave us feeling isolated and disconnected. We are like ships passing in the night, exchanging pleasantries and likes, but lacking genuine human interaction. The more we scroll through our feeds, the more we feel like we are stuck in a never-ending loop of superficiality.

With the plethora of options available to us, one would think we will be spoiled for choice. Yet, the abundance of options often leads to decision paralysis. They are like donkeys stuck between two bales of hay, unable to decide which one to choose. The more options we have, the more overwhelmed we become, and the more likely we are to feel bored and unfulfilled. As the ancient proverb goes, “A ship without a rudder is lost at sea.” Without a clear sense of purpose, we are adrift in a world that is full of distractions. We need to find our anchor, our reason for being, and let that guide us through the turbulent waters of life.

As I look deeper, I realize that beyond the surface-level distractions lies a deeper issue, a lack of meaning and purpose among our youths, many are not goal-oriented, some are clueless about what they want to be in life, economy has messed up many of them, many are tired of everything and majority, not all, are ready to learn new thing. Is there any way out to rectify this menace that is combating our youth? 

To some extent, there should be way out but the implementation and administration towards the solution is what we don’t know maybe the youths will actualize. It is often said that silence is golden, unfortunately, we have traded it cheaply with Satan and he is using it against us all the time. We now live in a world that’s constantly buzzing with noise, silence is a rare commodity. Yet, it is in the silence that we find our true selves. As the saying goes, “The still pond reflects the beauty of the sky.” When we take the time to quiet our minds and listen to our hearts, we begin to discover our passions and interests. Can we still go back to when the life was simple and quiet, when we give time to reflect about ourselves? When the first thing we do in the morning is to converse with our creator but not our tiktok and other social handles?

It will also interest you that there is power in engagement and I think it can also help our youngsters to overcome this parasite affecting them for now. Boredom often stems from a lack of engagement. When we are not challenged or stimulated, our minds begin to wander, and we feel unfulfilled. As the proverb goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” We need to find activities that challenge us, push us out of our comfort zones, and help us grow as individuals. Enough of staying in bed for all days, scrolling from one social handle to another, watching from YouTube to Netflix. We must engage ourselves with positive activities especially the one that challenge us to become better, engage in a meaningful relationships that go beyond social media, taking risks because not taking risk at all is the greatest risk, practice mindfulness, and occupy your minds with great stuffs. By implementing these strategies, we can break free from the cycle of boredom and find fulfilment in our lives. As the saying goes, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Let us take that step today and embark on a journey of discovery and growth. Remember I am just a doctor who prescribes drug, yours is to use it to become better. SHALOM