Bridging the gap

I love the Fall. I think there is something amazing about the changing leaves and the cool air. There are few things more beautiful in the world than the color of Autumn leaves.

The amazing thing is that the beauty emerges, even in the face of death. The changing of the leaves from green to red, orange, and yellow is actually the process of leaves dying and falling off of the tree.

While we appreciate that beauty, we often miss the beauty to be found in the older members of our society.

In recent years, our society has been more and more trained to look down on senior citizens and even middle-age adults. Many shows aimed at teenagers and pre-teens show parents as foolish and clueless. Commercials often portray the children as the smartest person in the family.

I don’t discount children and teenagers, and I admit that there have been times that their voices have unfairly been silenced or minimized. But swinging to the other extreme doesn’t make things any better.

I am witnessing a generation who is growing up without listening to very many of the voices of experience. Our mobile culture that moves families around the country and away from family has severed those connections. Churches where the teenagers often sit together and away from the adults has cut off that spiritual connection.

It saddens me when I listen to students who feel abandoned and alone. I know that there is plenty of blame to go around. Adults have ignored youth just as much as youth have pushed away from adults. But the reality is that there are as many lonely adults – especially senior citizens – sitting in the pews as there are teenagers.

I believe that one of the most overlooked opportunities in many churches, especially larger ones, is the chance for youth to connect with our older generations. In a world where so many institutions and organizations drive wedges between generations and separate us into sub-cultures, the church has a unique position. We can be a place where generations are drawn back together and voices of all ages can be heard.

If you are a teenager or pre-teen, my challenge to you is to approach an older member of the church and build a relationship. For our older adult members I would say this: Don’t be afraid to connect with the youth. While it may seem like their world is so much different than the one you grew up in (and it is), there are still many things where you can find common ground.

If the church can grab onto this great opportunity for community, I believe it can have a positive impact for everyone involved. Let’s bridge the gap.

shine!
Jason