Some writers have come up with generation groupings such as the millennials, generation X, Baby boomers etc. My contention though is how they create specific year ranges as if dynamism stops and starts. In my view, generational behavior is so dynamic and elastic, it can be stretched and shrieked. It is transitional and constantly changing. A study of it ends at the point when the results are obsolete.
Who then will survive such dynamism? How shall older generations stay in touch with the younger generation? or the younger generation stay in touch with the older generation?. My observation is that the older have tended to try and pull back the younger and its like swimming against a heavy tide, perhaps the older should contemplate the extent to which they should relax and swim in the direction of the tide and keep certain anchors, life jackets, and somehow sit at the steering of the boat. On the other hand the younger’s effort to pull along the older is like dragging a stubborn bull that has heavy breaks, the younger should perhaps allow the bull to find reason to follow the herd as they provide an honest evaluation of need for change..
The generation gap is therefore an unintended natural trend of behavior that rises because certain age groups established a new norm that seems to become the normal. The older have their older normal tightly guarded, and as the demographics may dictate, the younger will be dancing their new rhythm. The family or community dance becomes awkward since each one has a different tune. The real trouble is that the shifts may be in fundamental truths that should not shift. For instance, the belief in the saving grace of God that has been established through an eternal redemption plan of the creator. If generations come up and challenge such a truth by rallying a generation to believe in relativity of truth, then tighten your belts and contend such a thing. However, when a younger generation prefers certain fashions of dress, or worship songs, perhaps the older generation is the one to pay attention.
I’m very concerned that communication will die if the older generation does not play catch up. Someone said, the contents should never change but the containers can always change. This is true about Coca-Cola, I have lived to see different Coca-Cola bottles, but the taste is just the same. How can we maintain the timeless truth and still be comfortable with the changing containers? The delivery of music, the dress code, the pulpit stages, the hair styles. Who is going to define the unchanging fundamentals, who is going to check the content and not be bothered with the container? Who will go to the Romans and eat as the Romans and keep the inner core untouched?
Bridge the gap, if you are a millennial or a generation A, search for the old path of truth. If you are a baby boomer, search for the old path and search for the appropriate container for the sake of context.
I have heard the youth say, we feel judged and the older say, we are losing it. Let us both meet where the timeless truth of God’s word is firm and foundational. Let us not emphasize the add- on or accessories.
The call then is for an open heart, accommodative spirit, dynamism from everyone and yet a firm grip on timeless truth.
It's true what u said indeed , but as every thing was given to us , it's up to us to know it's limitations , as youth , we shouldn't loose that inner voice of guideness , and also have an open ear to the olders , course after all both sides have to learn to find a common language , we the youth understanding our limitations and the older generation adopting to change in a good way