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From the Top of the Yardstick
Donnette Alfelt
(Retail, $10.00) WEBSITE PRICE, $8.00 |
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Price: $8.00 Discussion on life issues for young people. |
| —FIVE LEFT IN STOCK— From the author: "I retired as a high school teacher more than a decade ago, but often return to give classes on life issues. Since I started teaching in the 1970s, a lot has changed, and today's teenagers live in a world that is very different from the world of my first students. However, I find there are some things that have not changed. In my visits to today's classrooms, I find that young people have similar concerns about the choices they face as they approach adulthood. I wrote this book for my grandchildren. Most of them are still under age 12, but when they enter high school, I want them to know what I believe, whether I am still here to talk to them or not. Hopefully this book will also be useful to others. (Paperback, spiral bound, 100 pages) REVIEW Theta Alpha Journal March 2008 Review by Wendy Soneson This friendly little book is like a conversation between a favorite aunt and her teenage niece or nephew, over a plate of cookies at the kitchen table. The title is a way of describing a lifetime with the metaphor of a thirty-six inch yardstick representing 72 years. Since the author is 76 years old, she is a little beyond the end of the yardstick, while the teenager can see the length of years yet ahead of him or her. It is a gentle reminder that, although a teenager feels in the prime of life, really they have a multitude of living experiences ahead. While advice is not always welcomed by young folks, this book is phrased as an "I statement," meaning Ms. Alfelt talks about her memories and experiences and what she learned from them. She addresses life's difficult times, mistakes, habits, fears, sex and being cool--all with the perspective of how the angels and God are standing nearby, ready to help and guide. She sees life as a school that prepares us for heaven, and calls this school the University of the Natural World, which we are all invited to attend. Her words of wisdom come from a calm and accepting place, rather than fearful predictions of danger and gloom, even when discussing tougher life issues. Her deep spiritual faith shines throughout this loving monologue, and has the feeling of forgiveness for human error, and support for learning and growth. Her experience with teens shows in the tone and examples she uses. She hits the exact right level of understanding for this stage of development, using teen approved language, without pretension. For example, when discussing sex, she states: "...casual sex can be so emotionally harmful. A feeling of being exploited or betrayed can be way beyond just embarrassment. In today's society 'having sex' has replaced 'making love' even in the language used." She does not resort to dire warnings or rules; she simply talks about reality in a neutral way, leaving the reader to his or her own conclusions. This book is written for teens, but I believe parents will benefit from hearing the subtle approach she favors. Teachers, too, especially new ones, will benefit from her understanding of the state of teens' minds. From the Top of the Yardstick is a small, spiral-bound handbook with an attractive layout, including border quotes from a variety of people, from Swedenborg to Oprah Winfrey. It is well organized with clear chapter headings, and short paragraphs. The illustrations by Brittany Kuhl are simple and appealing, in the style of a young artist. I highly recommend this book for teens, parents, and teachers. READ AN EXCERPT INTRODUCTION I use the yardstick as a measuring tool to look at where we are and where we are going. It represents the average life span. Though this is not an official statistic, it's close. Half an inch represents one year of life and thirty-six represents 72 years. Though still in this world, in my late 70s, I am slightly beyond the yardstick. I'm writing this to share with teenagers some thoughts about things I've learned during the inches or years of my life. Looking back, one thing I notice with gratitude is that even though at times I doubted or ignored the Lord's leading, He never left me. This booklet is about perspective and appreciation for the Lord's care. Whenever I go back to a high school classroom, I am affected by the power and promise of youth. The world is in a mess, but a new generation is coming along that can change things for the better. If each of you affects only two people for good, who in turn each affect two more, you CAN change the world. No matter how insignificant it may seem, every time you reject evil and strive to do what is right, the Lord can use this to strengthen you and to help others. After reading this book, you might want to talk to some older people in your life about their journeys along the yardstick. Ask them who inspired them. Ask them about the people they met and the lessons they learned. What led them to live where they lived and to marry whom they married? In what ways did the loves and talents they were born with shape their life stories? How did providence, sometimes called coincidence, change their outlooks and direction? Everyone has a story that, with the right writers, could be made into a best seller. Notice where you are now on the yardstick. If you are a teen you are between the six-and-a-half and ten inch marks. Notice also how many inches are still to come. Along the way, you will meet new people, go different places, learn more things and discover new interests and talents that can enrich your life. Most of your story is still ahead of you. HARD TIMES Looking back at my life, I am able to reflect with some perspective on my own hard times. I faced some painful challenges that, at the time, seemed unsolvable and unending. What I now realize is that some of the most agonizing situations lasted only a fraction of an inch. Even those that lasted longer changed in intensity and meaning as I changed and grew. In addition, I can now recognize miracles of where I was led or what I learned from these difficult times. You have a lot of inches of joy and sorrow before you and also the promise of providence that looks toward your eternal happiness. God's Word contains many stories that teach, guide and reassure us of His continuing care. One of the most well-known is the story of Joseph, who was thrown into a pit by his brothers and then sold into slavery. Following these trying times, he grew up to become ruler of Egypt, and was eventually reunited with the brothers who betrayed him. The messages of such biblical stories are also demonstrated in life stories around us. I was recently touched by the T.V. interview of a young lady who was hurt in 2005 by a terrorist bomb on a London subway. This attack killed 26 and injured hundreds, and she still deals with physical wounds. Yet, she expressed a gratitude for what she has learned from the experience. She said that knowing the outcome, she would get on that subway again because the experience has made her a better person and her life more meaningful. Many well-known people have similar stories of hard times leading to better things. Perhaps you know such stories or have had experiences of your own. I remember the distress and upheaval of losing my dream job and place to live. This completely changed the direction of my life. If you are presently going through a difficult time, I urge you to go to someone you trust for help. The Lord works through good people, and there is someone who can help you. It may be a trusted relative or friend or it may be a professional. The Lord also works from within. Notice the conflicting thoughts and emotions you are struggling with. Try to identify those that come from heaven and those that come from hell. If you recognize the negative lies to be from the hells, this may help to break their hold on you. |