Everyone is familiar with the "mid-life crisis." For most that personal dilemma becomes a plot point in a cliche joke or romantic comedy, but for others it is a significant time of frustration and questions concerning the nature of life, identity, calling and fulfillment. What you may not be familiar with is what is being called the "quarter life crisis."

The quarterlife crisis (QLC) is most simply defined as "a period of anxiety, uncertainty and inner turmoil that often accompanies the transition to adulthood." It is commonly experienced by college graduates who, now free from the programs and support network of the university, find it difficult to find a meaningful independent life. The term, "quaterlife crisis" was made popular by Abby Wilner and Alexandra Robbins in the book, Quarterlife Crisis, the Unique Challenges of Life in your Twenties. Naturally the book struck a chord with many twenty-somethings.

Back in May when I spoke at the Michigan District of the Assemblies of God, I met Leah and Brad Leach.

As often happens when I speak at denominational meetings, I end up having lunch with "the church planters." We ended up sitting next to each other and I learned about their ministries. Brad started Church of the King five days after 9-11. Brad was a part of FutureAG, a significant blogging voice in their movement thinking through issues of change.

Leah works full time in children's ministry and has walked through and written about her own quarterlife crisis. I encouraged her to submit some of her writing to Lifeway and today one of her articles appears in Threads. There she explains why many within the younger generations who are transitioning out of "academia into the 'real world'" are running into this crisis. (If you are not already subscribed to the Threads feed, you should be.)

What I've learned is that the dynamics of today's economy, our culture's customs, and consequences of previous generational choices all add up to create a unique situation for those of us who are currently transitioning from academia to the "real world." We take jobs only to face corporate downsizing and an American economy that for the first time is not promising to be more financially successful than that of the preceding generation. As a bachelor's degree has become more expensive, it's decreased in significance and a master's is almost expected. Add to these facts the reality that many of today's quarterlifers are children of divorce, and it's easy to see why the pressures of marriage and commitment can be particularly daunting.

She has found that many are at a loss how to respond to people going through this, and she has come to anticipate the blank stares or condescension that follow mention of the quarterlife crisis. But she explains, "whether you think my feelings were valid or ridiculous, they were very real, and the feelings that I felt at that moment were only the tip of the iceberg. What followed was a mixture of feelings that would wax and wane over the next several years. Loneliness. Confusion. Uncertainty about past decisions and anxiety about future ones."

The quarterlife crisis is nothing new. Each generation, from the Fall onward, struggles with identity, calling and purpose. And the transition from college to independent adulthood is proving to be a challenge for many today. Leah encourages readers to be sensitive to the issue. "To others going through a quarterlife crisis, know that you are not alone. And for those who may know someone going through this time, perhaps you can put away your tiny violins and provide a sympathetic heart and listening ear to a younger friend."

For those of you who are working to share the gospel with younger generations, it will serve you well to familiarize yourself with this phenomenon and to look for more from Leah. Also, we will be addressing this issue in or new book, Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and Churche that Reach Them.