This Generation

I've decided to take the next few days and weeks and write a few posts dedicated to generations.  So for the next while you'll be reading my thoughts on the struggles and opportunities of the forthcoming generation and those who are nearing the end of their time, as well as many of those in between.  I want to begin with some thoughts and burdens I have centered around our youth generation, those between the ages of 12 and 20.  The junior high, senior high and 'pre' young adult age students.  The reason and span of these thoughts have taken a long time to join together into a coherent paragraph or two, so if you feel like you are lost in the accusations, common knowledge and general apathy towards this age group, you're probably not alone.  Actually you're definitely not alone.  Read along and feel free to respond, I promise this post will get you thinking about your own presuppositions towards our youth generation and culture.

Not long ago I was leaving a coffee shop in my little town when I saw some familiar faces, being the non excitable, completely methodical personality that I am I slowly crossed the street and approached them, with no motive other then to say hi, and no expectation beyond perhaps an awkward glance back toward me and a gesture towards the rest of the group that that guy is a little creepy.  Perhaps you know the look, one friend trying to convince another that they have no idea who you are, a little nervous twitch of the eyes, a shrug of the shoulders and a slight groan that is completely incoherent, maybe you have even used the look a few times this month as strange older people have accosted you on the street or in a grocery store.  As I opened my mouth to say hello to the two individuals in the group of 6 that I recognized I experienced something that threw me off base and set my mind on a roller coaster ride through specific responses while not finding one that could fit the uttered comment.  Before I could form any words in an inviting tone I heard the following 'hey is there youth tonight, cause I want to bring a friend'.  When you enter into a situation with a specific expectation of having very limited conversation and the whole realm of your reality is turned from convex to concave it sinks into your mind that what you had imagined was very refined by the way society has come to view this generation.  Have I had the instance of limited conversation and needing to make an attempt to get out of awkward silence, yes I have, frequently.  But this occasion changed my perspective and my belief in what kind of a culture our youth are surrounding themselves with.  Suddenly it became apparent to me that not every person in this age range is decidedly silent to my generation, and they are in fact looking for a positive relationship with any one who is willing to offer it.

This is the reason for my post, we have long read in the "dear editor" section of our newspapers and even seen it on the evening news that this youth generation is being raised improperly, or responding to the nurturing process negatively or they are being so brainwashed by the 'evil things' all around them that their only response is disrespect.  I disagree, and possibly not in a respectful manner.  The fact is that we are not surrounded by a generation of youth that are hopeless, lost, in need of anger management or general therapy.  They do not need to be taught tough love and they by no means need to learn life the hard way.  I believe that this is the first of possibly many more youth generations that are in need of the 'hands on' approach.  Growing up my generation needed a few hours a week with our parents and mentors in order to be properly trained, but due to the gross over indulgence in media and technology with today's youth there needs to be much more time spent pouring into their lives.  There is of course inherent risk in this that individuals will hurt you, that can however be said about every generation before this one and those that will follow.  My honest opinion of the matter is that this generation needs love, an opportunity to show who they are and what they can accomplish is given the chance, they need to be shown that theirs is a future that they can take hold of, that hope is not a four letter word but an actual tangible experience of emotion and contrasting sentiment.  Tough love is not the way to go, because just maybe they don't even know what it means to have simple love, the kind that stops them on the street and says, 'hey, are you ok?'  And they don't need to learn the hard way because this is quite possibly the only way they have ever been taught anything in their lifetime.  We can not leave them to fend for themselves and force them to grow up at an accelerated pace because our lives are just too busy.  We need to fight for them, fend for them and train them up to live life in a proper respectful manner, and when they do fail we need to cheer them on to try again, no matter if it takes one try or 100, we need to be their biggest cheerleader.

I had a man in my life outside of my family who every chance he had, made sure to tell me how much improved I was at something, how well I was doing at another area of life, and where and how I could improve at areas I was weak in.  This man mentored me because he saw potential and hope for my life.  Who do you have in your life that did that for you, better question, who are you doing it for now?  I know I would miss an entirely relevant area of this discussion if I didn't mention the apparent lack of respect that can sometimes be shown for the property and person of other individuals and that of the city they live in.  My response to the way people react to these situations: this may be why the show of respect is not greater, if it is at all being shown.  When we make a point to react in disrespect for the action of another the appropriate thing for the offender would be to apologize, but when we leave our youth to learn for themselves and expect them to make proper decisions along the way, we set them up for failure from the beginning of their journey toward adult hood.  We would never leave an infant and expect him/her to feed and clothe themselves.  Why take the adolescents and expect them to learn life's lessons without any guidance.  Here's the point to this rant, lives are changed through relationship, this is the best way to see discipline take effect and foster the proper attitude or lifestyle change that may be needed.  So if we want to change the culture and generation of the youth of our family/town/country get involved in their everyday activities.  Start showing that you care and soon you'll see that they actually do care, not just as a show to appease us, but they actually do care.

I work with youth and children as part of my calling, I see the disfunction in their lives and the desire to be loved and accepted.  So while I may see them in groups, I deal with them as individuals, getting involved and showing that they are cared for, that the future they will see can be entrusted in their hands, and that they are meant to accomplish great things.  So if you see some spray paint, don't respond 'stupid kids' set it in your heart and mind to love and teach them.  After all there is a good possibility some one once saw your actions and responded 'stupid kid' wouldn't you have rather been taught the better way to live life them be labeled in such a harsh way?

Take some time and share the hope you have with the generation that is growing up fast, too fast, and allow them to see down the road a few years, what's ahead may be rocky and have some hard lessons, but it is also filled with potential to grow and learn, opportunity to love and a chance to succeed.  Life is short, why not share yours with someone who desires to live a good life.