AboutDr Tim Gladu Expertise I can answer questions on most Youth and Teen issues as they pertain to what God has to say on the subject.
Experience I have been in Youth Ministry for more than ten years and I have also raised 3 Teenagers myself.
Bachleor in Ministry, Masters in Pastoral Counseling, and Doctorate in Theology.
Expert: Dr Tim Gladu Date: 3/6/2007 Subject: Emptiness
Question Hi,
okay I am soon to turn 17 and although this doesn’t mean very much to me I feel I have got to a point where I am constantly feeling like there is something missing in my life, I play allot of sport and this is sometimes a temporary relief from the feeling, however it is nothing more than temporary.
I have always seen myself as a man of science even at such a young age I have always turned to science to seek my answers in life, however I recently had a convocation with a very close friend of mine to see if she could help with my feeling of emptiness, as she is a very religious and spiritual person and also one of the most secure and happy people that We were left alone for around 3 hours in college during free periods and had become very bored and I soon drifted off into a small day dream which ended up like all of my day dreams between a choice between science and religion. This brought on that feeling of emptiness again and in a hope to find conversation with my friend asked her if she ever felt empty she answered “no not really, why do you ask?” I explained my situation to her and then asked her what she feels makes her feel whole and she replied “well I’m not to sure to be honest”.
After reflecting on the conversation I felt a very strange feeling very much like anger, as I had conjured visions and thoughts making out that each and every one of us is walking a tight rope the goal/platform at the end is what we all seek and for me I am not to sure what this is however I imagine it to be ultimate knowledge as this is what I so often seek for in my life and with this I can understand who I am, why I am here etc.
In my daydream there is a safety net under us the tight rope that represented religion, it was like an alternative/ an easy way out from the hard task of walking the tight rope to the goal. It was for people that had given up striving for the goal at the end. This I what angered me the fact that all these people could take an easy way out into religion and feel whole and complete where as the ones who struggle on through life with this empty feeling get, well, nothing but feeling small and with no real reason/purpose in there life its like they are trying to aim for the goal but every time they take a step towards it, it takes 2 steps back.
It sort of seems that the thing that separates us from other animals on the planet is questioning i.e. why, and how. But each time we learn how or why it just makes us ask more questions. Very much like the game played as a child when one person says a sentence such as “The earth is round” and then the second person ask’s “What does round mean” and then the first child will explain what “the shape of a circle or sphere” and the second will ask again, “what does shape mean?” and this can go on forever and ever.
I am very sorry if this has offended any of the readers and it was not intended for this reason at all, however this feeling of emptiness is really driving me crazy now I feel that I could take the easy way out and find a religion however, I feel this will never make me happy as I will know I have taken the easy way out.
I am assured that many teens feel this during some time in their lives and would welcome any comments and hints and tips on trying to once again bring normality back into my life, like when I was a young child with no other worries than I wonder what is for tea, It feels like I have been let out into the big wide world to quickly and just have a ton of questions to ask with no one but myself to help answer them.
Thanks Tom
Answer Tom,
I am sorry you feel that you feel so empty. I have been a Chriatian for over 30 years and being a Chriatian is not the easy way out. The world does not have any rules tolive by you can do what ever you want and if you do not believe in a God then you have no consequenses. Being a Christian and living for Christ requires a committment to something higher than yourself. The Lord is real and if you do not believe yhan you have failed to truly look into your heart. God wants great things for your life and to commit your life to Christ youwill be able to find a way to fill that emptiness that you have in your life. I would suggest finding a church you can attend locally and see if you get the feeling that God is talking to you. I ave found that when I listen to what God has to tell me I am able to have the happy life you appear to be missing. I want you to know that if you look into the satasifaction you get from serving in the kingdom you will be able to find true happiness. I will praythat God will send someone to talk to you about what it means to be a servant of Christ. I will be available to answer any questions you might have.
