Steamboat Pilot & Today

A long time ago, but not so very long ago, there was a man by the name of Lucas. He was trapped on the roof of his house surrounded by floodwaters.

He prayed and prayed for God to save him. A few minutes later, a man passed Lucas' house in a rowboat.

"Jump in. I'll save you," the man said.

"No," Lucas replied. "God will save me." The man shrugged and rowed away. Lucas continued to pray, and 30 minutes later, a helicopter threw down a ladder. Lucas sent them away.

"God will save me," he said.

Eventually, the flood killed Lucas. When he got to heaven, he asked God, "Why didn't you save me?"

"I tried," God said. "I sent the rower and the helicopter."

In this story, God exists, but he works in strange ways.

It's odd to think about God because, stereotypically, many youth today have no concept of religion. The kids who do practice a religion are often influenced by their parents. Some of the kids I know are extremely religious and fear they will be sent to Hell if they sin.

I won't say all kids feel that way, because many of them don't. Some are trying to break away, but don't know what direction they are going in. They don't really know what to believe in.

There is a good segment of the population that doesn't really know what religion they are. They don't have time, or they don't care.

Hayden teen Sara Sumerlin said she is a firm believer in the Christian God. She goes to church once a month or more.

"I used to go to youth group," she said. "Youth group really opened me up to religion way more than I ever thought. I started to think about worldly matters way more. God always has and always will help others, but it may not be the most obvious way."

Sumerlin said she thinks about Hell quite often. "I always wonder about if I sin too much, if I will be accepted into heaven. I do believe in Hell and Satan, and I hope to never have to experience any of it."

Kenny, another Hayden teen, is a Lutheran.

"God created Earth and all the species of animals and people. Christ sacrificed himself on the cross for the sake of the human race." He too believes in Heaven and Hell.

Religion has caused war, hate and arguments, as well as comfort, revelations, peace and happiness. For those reasons, it's still here and it always will be here.

Justine Bedell will be a sophomore at Hayden High School.