In 1972, the Alice Cooper band released School’s Out, their 5th studio album. A follow-up album to Killer, School’s Out reached No. 4 on the UK album charts, No. 2 on the US Billboard 200, and No. 1 on the Canadian RPM Top 100. Some, including Ian Chapman, have claimed the album is a concept piece telling the story of innocence lost after the ‘dear old golden rule days’ of school. Notable tracks from the album include: “Luney Tune”, “Blue Turk”, “Public Animal #9”, and “Alma Mater”.

The title track of the album is an anthem for all humanity. Alice describes it like this, “‘School’s Out‘ was designed to be a hit. It was designed to be an anthem. It was designed to appeal to every single person in the world because everybody has sat through school on the last three minutes before school is out – for Summer. Forever.” He concluded that, “if we can capture the joy of the kids screaming, knowing they have three months off of school, well, that will be a big hit.” Of course, they were right! “School’s Out” is arguably one of the best Alice Cooper songs, if not the best, of all time.

This week, we get a little more personal. I don’t like to do this often, but it seems fitting in this post. “School’s Out” is a nostalgic throwback to a time when things were a little simpler (yet seemed so complex to the mind of an adolescent teen). A time when the summers were a list of various activities from church camp to pool parties to sleepovers to the State fair to the 4th of July, and all sorts of other events and shenanigans. Summers, for the most part, I remember the most – a reminder of what freedom felt like to a young, impressionable mind. Flash forward to today, when summer takes on a whole new role as a business owner, a parent, and a believer.

During the school year, my wife and I run our small business together with her on the front lines working with clients, and myself handling the administrative side, mostly out of sight. Life tends to be a little more structured, less chaotic, and planned out during the school year. However, when school lets out it’s no holds barred. I work from home during the summer. Home with the kids. Same tasks just different venue. Different scenario. Different rules. The Summer is hard, tough to navigate, and sometimes feels like a waste of time. It’s tougher to get things accomplished. Still ensuring that the business stays afloat and running while listening to requests for food, time on the tablets/TV/phones, time outside, trips to the pool, etc. It’s a juggling act for sure. BUT it’s a BLESSING in it’s own right.

It didn’t happen over night, but at some point, the Lord reminded me that it’s a badge of honor to be a Father. Something to not take lightly. In fact, the Word has so much to say about raising children. He has entrusted His children to us. We are to raise them up properly (Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4) – while helping them see the joy in life (Colossians 3:21).  It’s no small task. It’s no small order. BUT it’s a big deal. You may be saying to yourself – I’m not a stay-at-home parent, I’m not with my children during the day, my children are grown & gone, or maybe you don’t have children. This post still pertains to you! Young people watch us. They learn from us. We influence them – whether we think we do or not. They are sponges soaking up everything around them. We have to help them sort through those things they are processing. Helping them decipher what is right. What is wrong. What is good. What is evil. Believe it or not, they expect and want that. The exterior may not say or show that – but the interior longs for it. They want our input.

While I am thankful for my parents and their upbringing, it was often outside sources that made a bigger difference. Conversations with youth pastors, camp counselors, friends, friend’s parents/grandparents, employers, colleagues, adult neighbors, etc. were many times more influential than dinner table conversations with my nuclear family. Interestingly enough, those conversations that may have seemed trivial at the time shaped, molded, and predisposed me to many different topics that may not have ever come up within my own household growing up. Don’t read this incorrectly, this isn’t a downplay of parenthood. We are called to be shepherds of our own flock (1 Peter 5:2-3). What it is though, is a call to all aspects of your life, not just your own children. All youth that come into contact with you are watching, learning, and wondering what it means to be His child. How that makes them different? How they should treat others? How His Love applies to them?

I urge you to take your role in the life of a young person (and all people) seriously. There are so many opportunities afforded to them – some good, some not. Do your best to make the most of the good opportunities they have. Making those positive ones stand out above the rest. Volunteer when and if you can with the younger generation. Investing in them is not only investing in their future, but also yours – they will one day lead. But it’s more than that. It’s our job to pass the flame to the next generation and so on (Psalms 145:13). One of my favorite songs, “Windows” by the band Whitecross, has a few lines that have stuck like glue over the years. Lines to live by: