An absence of trouble or just an absence… I would love to raise my kids in an environment that factors out trouble. I wish there would not destructive forces that posesses the capacity to change the course of their entire life. I further wish that I could steer them away from areas where trouble lurks in the shadows. I have been down many of those dark alleys myself. I hate to see my children venture down such areas.

Today in a juvenile court hearing I witnessed a really good kid suffer the consequences of plowing down several dark alleys that he should have avoided. He has already suffered the consequences to some degree. Be locked up in a juvenile detention center is not one of life’s more pleasant experiences. There has been no absence of trouble in this young man’s life recently.

I have attended several court hearings and trials over the years for both juveniles and adults. Frequently there are notable absences at such events. Parents are often counted absent. Grandparents and other extended family members are absent more often than not. Under such circumstances I walk away wondering where the accused will find support and encouragement.

Today was an exception. This child’s parents were present. He also had both maternal and paternal grandparents routing for him. His adopted grandparents from church were also there to express their love and concern. Nobody was tardy and there no absences.

I will never get my wish. There will never be a complete absence of trouble for my children or for the kids that I have grown to know and love from the church and the local community. We live in a fallen world. I am confident however that there is a greater propensity for trouble to be absent when mom and dad hang in there. Abandoned kids struggle the most. I have been counted abesent for less than noble reasons in my life. I have done my share of skipping school and avoiding formal events that I did not want to attend. But I am not going to be counted absent when it comes to seeing to the needs of my children. I don’t intend to be absent when any child I know is in trouble. I suppose the reason for my commitment to be present is pretty basic. There were adults in my life who chose not to be absent when I needed them the most, because there was no absence of trouble in my life. An absence of trouble or just an absence… One we cannot control and one we can…..