This week’s blog post is by Brad Wright, Compass Rose’s campus chaplain. To learn more about Brad, click here.

I have to agree with Drake when he says, “Now she want a photo; you already know though; you only live once: that’s the motto — YOLO … we about it every day, every day, every day …”

The part I agree with is “you only live once.” He is right. We get one life – and what are you doing with yours?

The song “YOLO” was about being the man, having lots of sex, smoking weed and making money. I believe, just like a lot of other people, that YOLO is about living this one life that God gave us to the best of our abilities according to God’s word.

Look at Proverbs 1:2-4; “Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; a manual for loving what’s right and just and fair; to teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality.”

What does 23,375 mean to you? It’s the average number of days a person has to live (75 years). If you are 16 years old, you have lived 5,840 days and have 21,535 days left. What will you do with those days? You only live once!

If you are 50 years old, you have lived 18,250 days and have 9,125 days left. What will you do with those days? You only live once!

The term “YOLO” defined by the Urban Dictionary means, “to defend something ranging from mild to extreme stupidity.”

Take a look at John 10:10; “The thief (Satan) comes to kill steal and destroy, but I (Jesus) have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.”  Do you hear that? The thief wants you to believe that you only have one life and you should so whatever you want whenever you want – you only live once. But Jesus says we have one life on earth, and He wants us to have it to the fullest.

Let’s reclaim this “YOLO” message and begin living life. You can’t go back and change the days you’ve already lived, but you can change the today and how it impacts the days to come!

To learn more ways to help your teen live life with a positive YOLO spirit, contact Compass Rose Academy today.