Greater understanding across the generations
By the Reverend Joanne Hood, St John’s Church Hamilton A couple of years ago I did some work on the theories of ‘generational characteristics’– the idea that each generation has recognisable characteristics and traits which (if known) help all of us to better understand each other across the generational divides.
It was useful to consider as we find ourselves increasingly in multigenerational living situations within family lives, community groups, work environments, places of worship and neighbourhoods.
Older generations are living longer, younger generations are finding it more difficult to be financially independent, and more and more studies suggest that when different generations spend time together and learn what makes each other tick lives are enriched from that shared experience.
We coexist more happily with understanding of each other’s needs/ concerns/desires/passions.
So whether you are a Builder, Boomer, Generation X, Generation Y or anything since, it becomes ever more evident that our modern challenge is to work out how to live or work together whilst managing to support, respect and seek to understand each other.
It is quite a challenge but there are stories of faith that show this is not a new phenomenon.
The story of the people of Israel journeying from Egypt to a new land in what we now call ‘the exodus’ is just such a story.
Here, generations of people journeyed together and created a new life and a new reality for themselves.
In the New Testament we have stories of multi-generational crowds following Jesus who, despite their disparate nature, all found something they responded to in the man from Nazareth and the life-giving words he had to offer.
In these stories, and in our own communities, life is not just about the challenge of ‘coexisting’. It is about the accomplishments of co-creating within a multi-generational reality.
How could we change our present and shape our future if we share responsibility and respect across the lines that would threaten to divide us?