But, those who have both the privilege and challenge of walking and working with young people would consider that an unfair generalization at best, misguided and superficial at worst. Many people are simply empty at the core of their being, and young people are no exception. When we pay attention to the spirituality of young people, we recognize their multi-faceted humanness. They, like adults, have needs that are intellectual, emotional, physical, social and spiritual. Human life in this world, from birth to death, is a process in and through which we grow, learn, and mature.
Adolescence is a chapter of that larger story.
It is a stage of the journey, marked by self-discovery, dramatic changes and constant needs as young persons move toward adulthood and maturity. Consequently, spirituality is one aspect both of the human life-journey, as persons created by God, and that particular stage of the journey that we call adolescence. Like all other facets of our lives, there are spiritual characteristics that are unique and specific to humans during adolescence. The following questions begin the spiritual search of adolescents. They are not always verbalized because young people often live in a place beyond words.