I’m on a quest in search of opinions regarding generation gaps. My reason for this is that I’m involved in a program that is looking for ways to bridge the gap which exists between them. I know that when a child becomes a teenager, they don’t think their parents know much of anything. When that same child becomes an adult with children of his own, he wonders how his parents got so smart during those passing years. Having started out as part of the “Silent Generation,” I’ve seen the development of several different types over the years. I’m not an expert on any of them really, but I do know that what goes around, tends to come around again. Or as Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” This may make us wonder, but often what happened in the past will surface again at another time in history. It will just be packaged differently. For example, a lot of what is going on in 2024 was happening a hundred years ago.
The generation before me was the “Greatest Generation.” My parents were alive during the time of the Dust Bowl of 1930. They witnessed the Great Depression. The saw the ending of WWI and the beginning of WW2. They were involved in a worldwide epidemic in 1919 which was like the COVID disaster which rocked our world only a few years ago. This generation learned about manners, respect for those in authority, following God and His commands for life. The family unit was important too. Games were played at a table, not on a device. Most of them didn’t lock their doors – not because they felt safe in them, but because they had nothing of worth to steal. They knew the value of a dollar and worked very hard for every one of them. The recycled everything including diapers. Their name aptly describes them.
It seems like every generation has something going for it. We all endure hardships from time to time. Wealth can go away in an instant. Success is fleeting. Relationships fall apart or come together again. Marriage meant committing to another person for life. Live are cut short in many ways. In an instant life can be altered. Change is all around us and now in this era of technology, us old fogies are struggling with it. Maybe this is the place to start bridging the gap. Certainly, those youngsters with all their computer savvy, could help the older generation figure things out. We elders can help the youngers know the value of communication on a different level. We have a plethora of wisdom which has been gathered over so many years of learning and experience. Most of it has been forgotten along the way, but if our memories are still sharp, we can teach through them.
It seems that the gap is impossible to breach, but with God’s help, I believe we can. Since I’m beginning to research this subject, I would love some feedback – not only from the golden agers, but those just starting their journey. Understanding comes from talking to each other. Problems can be solved by that very thing. So please feel free to express your opinions on this topic. Thanks in advance.
atimetoshare.me 
I was let go from a job in 1998. I worked there 8 years. My Mom worked for a company that treasured her for over 35 years. She thought that I had done something terribly wrong. In the Baby Boomer generation, we began to witness that the company was not always loyal.
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Thanks Karla. I hear you. 1990s changed the working situation for a lot of people with the elimination of middle management. In an attempt to be more profitable this practice not only eliminated jobs but people became disenchanted with their employees.
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I too am freshly observing. I go witness/evangelise, one whole day per week amongst the younger generation. Sharing my art as a conversation starter. Even in this I observe the different responses as they are given a piece – some can’t thank you enough – others? (😅).
Often the age barrier must be bridged – again different responses – I think to do with upbringing, some show more respect than others. Humour and my youthfulness ‘inside’ helps. 😎
One young man observed that my moustache was ‘sick’ – which was the highest praise!
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As we get older I think we forget how important those younger years are to the finished product. We should never lose our joy for living and sharing with young people. If we do,we simply become curmudgeons.
Art is a good medium for expression. Any creative endeavor will reach them. Way to go you “sick” mustached fellow.
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Can’t seem to hit the like button for others comments – doesn’t show up – anyway we are all still learning…. all interesting stuff…. 👍
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Wow. I’m opening this blog after coming back home from doing a presentation at our church’s annual state convention meeting on “How to attract young people to the church and keep them.” Most believers are familiar with the fact that churches are seeing a noticeable decrease in young people attending church, primarily millennials. My presentation was to a group of laymen. It wasn’t surprising that all of them recognized this generational issue but are confused about how to address it. I will be honing this presentation and making it available to churches around our state. My hope is that it will be helpful to churches in communities everywhere.
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So we’re on the same track it looks like. One of my thoughts is the breakdown of the family has a lot to do with this. Men seem to be second class citizens since the feminist movement back in the 1970s. More women are in the workplace. Kids are enrolled in so many extra curricular activities that family rarely had to hav together
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Sorry my finger slipped. Families rarely have quality time together. I also feel we need to get children into Sunday school and continue the day with church time. Teaching young people to be helpers instead of takers or wanters. Parents then should stop rewarding children for participating. A servant attitude is what Jesus expects of us. These thoughts need to start at home and nurtured by the church. Thanks for your comments and let me know some of your ideas.
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I have a theory about the generation gap I don’t often see others talking about, but I think it makes sense. Consider what has happened to our education system. We have a government-run education system that has become extremely politicized. The people running our schools are in labor unions that contribute greatly to the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party has become increasingly Marxist (Radicalized might be a nicer word, but it is not as accurate.).
When politicians started running our schools in the 1830’s, these were local politicians with roots in their communities. Then state governments started chipping in money, and now the Federal Government is funding the schools. With school boards and local governments included every school in the country is managed by four different committees: school board, county or city government, state government, and the Federal Government. That all by itself is crazy, but the creeping secularization of our schools and the unionization of our teachers have been disastrous. As a result, each generation of children is being taught values that look less and less like what their parents were taught.
Fortunately, during the COVID19 pandemic, parents started seeing for themselves what their children were being taught. Hopefully, enough parent and the public at large will see what is being done to our children as a threat to their souls.
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Oh Tom thank you for this. I’m really trying to figure out how we can fix this and come back to what we once were. There are so many things that contribute to this gap. Dysfunctional families come to mind. Single mothers raising their children alone. The lack of a strong male role model for kids. The lack of respect. Entitlement and parents who choose to be their child’s buddy rather than their authority. I really believe we need to get back to our basics. Getting ourselves and our kids back to church and providing a strong bond with our creator is a start. The schools certainly bear some responsibility, but those early formidable years are laying the groundwork for our children. I know God is still in control and he has a plan.
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@atimetoshare.me
One thing that most Americans don’t realize is that before the welfare state arrived, the blacks in this country had strong families.
Think about that. Slavery did not destroy black families. Jim Crow did not destroy black families. The welfare state, combined with rotten intercity schools made of mess of black families.
The welfare state and rotten schools are now in the process of messing up the families of other ethnic/racial groups. Do I have a solution? I think getting government out of the welfare would help, and I think school vouchers would help, but I don’t expect either idea will work properly until enough people turn to Jesus in repentance.
We can campaign for the end of the welfare state and school choice. We can spread the Gospel, but praying for the souls of our people seems to be the most important thing we can do.
Remember! The Father draws souls to Jesus. He can do that to anyone at any age.
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