Date Night

February 14 2012, 8:14 am | Blake Hudspeth

Sunday night was the Grammy Awards…the Super Bowl of crazy, eccentric, and, at times, incredible music.  And, if you listen to many of the lyrics, you might've been reminded about something in our culture.

We don't understand love.

Almost every love song on the radio is centered around that shallow, emotional, fleeting stage of relationships some refer to as "puppy love". The other person has no flaws, they're perfect in every way, and everything is romance, sunshine and rainbows.  And that's perfectly fine. However, the problem I'm beginning to see is that my generation is buying into the lie that "true love" means we will always feel this way.  It's a distorted, corrupted, dangerous position to take.  And now I'm beginning to see it's affect on the way high school students view dating.  

It seems, today, that there are two big trends taking place:

1. Students are constantly being bombarded with the message that   dating = worth. If I have "value" (i.e. beauty, athleticism, popularity, etc.), then it will be seen by someone wanting to date me.  Therefore, if nobody wants to date me, I must have something wrong with me (aka- "I have no value").  

2.  Students are constantly being bombarded with the message that dating = romance. It is the sun around which all other relational planets revolve.  

I believe all of this is pushing students to want to date at an increasingly younger age as well as creating a generation of insecure, relationally confused, Facebook/Twitter/text-crazed individuals. So, starting this Wednesday, we're going to begin to address all of it with one word.  It's the word by which dating needs to be defined.  It's the word that needs to be foundational in every relationship.  It's the word Scripture commands us to do.   And then...we're actually going to do it.

That's right, instead of us trying to explain what we believe dating needs to become, we're just going to show it.  February 22nd, we're going to have a "date night" at the SPOT.  You won't want to miss it.  I've already been getting questions from students and parents, so I'll answer a few of your questions before we start:

"IS IT REALLY GOING TO BE A DATE?"

If, by "date", you mean "a romantic encounter with a guy or girl"…then NO.  But if, by "date", you mean "a fun, friendly dinner with guys and girls in your grade"… then YES.

"AM I SUPPOSED TO BRING A DATE?"

In case you didn't catch it from the first question…NO, this is a group/just friends date!  Entire grades will be sitting together.

"DO I NEED TO DRESS UP?"

The whole night will be very casual. Wear what you want.  If you want to dress up…go for it. If you want to wear sweats…bring it on.

"WHERE WILL WE BE AND HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?"

It will be in the theater and last as long as the SPOT/small groups normally do!

"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

We're saving a few surprises, but there will be dinner, games, video, and a time during dessert where my wife (Danielle Hudspeth) and I will be having a conversation on "Frequently Asked Questions" about dating in high school.

Students- if you read "we're going to have a 'date night' at the SPOT" and freaked out…chances are you might not understand dating as well as you think.

Parents- if you read "in a relationship" on your student's Facebook profile and freaked out…chances are you aren't the only one. Come hang out with us this Wednesday as we talk about the "one word" that should define dating! Also, if you want to help out with dinner/Date Night on the 22nd, let us know!

It's going to be different than anything we've done before…and we're praying that it will help change the trends of unhealthy relationships among students in the coming years.

Date Night: February 15 & 22

Be there. It's going to be a lot of fun.

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