Case Studies

(These situations are based on the stories of real people, who have given their permission to use their experiences for the purpose of this study unit. Their names and some of the circumstances have been changed to ensure their privacy.)

Situation 1
Tim was a normal kid at high school. He played some sports, got pretty good grades, and had some real good friends. He was also really proud to be an Orthodox Christian. He liked going to Church (most of the time), and talking about God with friends he met at retreats and other church youth events. His life at school, however, was pretty separate from his involvement in Church. Most of the people in school didn't know about his involvement in church until his sophomore year. A friend asked him to a party but he said no since he was planning on going to a retreat that weekend.
When people found out, they began to tease him, saying that he was a "Jesus freak" and that "only idiots get into going to that Church stuff." Former school friends stopped calling him and asking him to parties. Tim got really frustrated. He liked his old friends and enjoyed hanging out with them, but was angry that they were acting so bizarre. Now he even felt weird crossing himself before eating lunch, which in the past no one had even noticed. Tim found himself feeling like he had to choose between Church and school.

Situation 2
Sarah walked into a shelter for homeless teenagers and asked, "How much does the state pay you to take care of me?" The people in the shelter didn't understand. She was 16 and looked a little desperate. "I mean , how much does the state give you? Do they give you a lot?" The workers at the shelter could see that this was a very important question for her.
"Why do you want to know that?" they asked.
"Well I figured that if you were getting paid pretty well by the state to take care of me, then you'd probably keep me around. I mean, you have to keep me around to get the money, right?"
The workers told her that money had nothing to do with it and that they would want her there if they didn't get a penny. "Well," she said, " that's what my mother said when she threw me out. She said she got money from the state for the foster children she took in and if I was gone she could take in one more foster child. She told me to get out since she wasn't making any money on me. But, I'm her daughter! She said those other kids were worth more than me. She told ME to get out! Can you believe that? Can you?"

Situation 3
Peter grew up in a relatively normal middle class home with his parents and two sisters. His dad worked a lot and his mom worked odd jobs but mostly stayed home and took care of him and his sisters. Holidays at their house were always big events. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents would always gather at Peter's house to celebrate.
During Peter's first year in high school his parents decided to get a divorce. At first, Peter didn't mind it so much. He saw his dad every weekend, whereas previously his dad had traveled for work on a lot of weekends. But then the holidays came around and no one was coming to the house. Worse yet, His dad wanted to take him and his sisters to his parents and his mom wanted to take them to her sisters.
As the years went by the parents would split Peter and his sisters up so that at least one of the children would spend the holiday with each of them. Every holiday and vacation became a battle ground for possession of the kids. Since Peter was older, they would often leave it up to him to decide. The problem he faced, however, was: to decide to be with one parent meant to decide NOT to be with the other.
Eventually, Peter got sick of it. He was tired of always trying to make everyone happy. No matter what he did someone wasn't happy and he was never happy.

All of the people in these situations are loved by God, who has a special purpose for them.

1. Based upon this part of their lives, what do you think that purpose might be?

2. Do you know anyone who was in a similar situation? How did they respond to their situation? Were they able to find opportunities to help people in the situation or were they overcome by the disadvantages?

3. How would you react if you were in this situation? (to God, to other people)

4. What are some positive things they or you could do in this situation to help people and show that God is loving and wants the best for us? What are some negative or destructive things they or you could do?