I’m a baby-boomer and I’ll be the first to admit that my generation leaves a lot to be desired. We are a big, self-absorbed, career obsessed, adolescent generation.
Want proof? A recent political add from a national senior citizen lobby stated starkly to our political leaders; “There are 55 million of us and we’ll be watching.” The message is…don’t touch my entitlements.
Certainly entitlements for the poor need to be preserved, but how is it that the elderly class in America now go on TV and threaten the younger generations? What happened to adult elders whose job is to set the stage for the next generations?
At Vibrant Faith Ministries we are huge advocates for linking the generations, not playing them off against one another. Were we to run a political add we’d say:
“There are 55 million of us and we are watching…and acting to see that our children and grandchildren have opportunities to be all that God has made them to be, and to share a faith to sustain them through life.”
And then this week, even as I was fuming over my generations selfishness I met two men who run counter to the “me” generation. One has created an incredible organization http://www.watertothrive.org. This man has been successful in business and is now giving of himself by digging wells in Ethiopia. The other gentleman had a long career in manufacturing and is now giving back through an organization called SCORE. They link retired executives with young business leaders in need of mentoring. Both do this work for FREE! Now that’s more like it!
The book of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of cross-generational sharing. And in Ephesians 6:4 father’s are encouraged to “bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” That takes work and self-sacrifice.
So, if I was to create a T-shirt company and we only sold one type of shirt that said “I’m older and it’s not about me!” would you buy it?
I’ve given up on buying T-shirts, but I love the slogan: “I’m older and it’s not about me!” Maybe a bumper sticker or a coffee cup?
By: Pastor Jack Diehl on November 12, 2011
at 6:56 pm
I am now a baby senior citizen and as I move into this group I yearn for more of what my parents and grandparents were at this age. It was about ensuring and sacrificing for our children and grandchildren so they could have life abundantly. I agree I hear way to much me, me, me and not enough what about others? I have hope and in programs where elders pair with teenagers there seems to be more of an exchange than when they pair with the generation next to them. I remember that as I grew up. My parents and grandparents has some mild friction (not much), but I could always talk with my grandparents when things were not smooth between me and my parents. Often they would have some wisdom or some insight to help me with my situation. I think elders at work or a church environment can do the same for the other generations. Honoring each other is very biblical.
By: Mary Page on November 16, 2011
at 4:26 pm
Where are the adults? Why, off raising more people to feel even more entitled than we do. As you say, some of us are more high-minded and do something about it. I come from an extended farm family and I miss all the Sunday dinners with great-grandfaters and cousins and running around on the farm chasing farm animals (and being chased by said animals). I still want to put everything aside for family events, but others in our group put everything aside for soccer or some other sports. Our leadership as a generation I sometimes feel to be fracturing.
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at 5:08 am
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By: k coffee on January 4, 2013
at 8:50 pm
Hi Paul, I just wanted you to check out this book, “Wild Grace” by Max Lucado. It is about connecting with young people who feel unworthy or disconnected from grace and it might be of use.
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at 11:41 pm
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