When kids come to our house, the first thing they do even before greeting us is to ask: What’s the password for the Wi-Fi? They anxiously await for that information , and when they get it they smile hypnotized by their cell phones till it’s time to leave. Meanwhile we remain there with them like a picture hanging on the wall.
While the older folks would say that the young are mistaken for not showing any interest in connecting to their world, the young would say that the older folks are mistaken for not showing any interest in connecting to theirs. But the truth is that to maintain an intergenerational conversation is a challenge for all generations.
The older adults learned to deal with one at a time and that seems correct to them, but the younger learned to deal with several at once and that is what is right to them. The secret however, like in any form of communication, is to put oneself in the place of the other. Therefore is not about saying what one wishes but ensuring that the other is understanding what is being said, without forgetting that the older were once young.
In reality, like a healthy family where there is space for all, including the grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, we must learn to walk through this generational alley. Knowing that our walk will be as pleasant and happy as our capacity to focus beyond our own generational things to the things of the other generations.
If we are going to follow Jesus, we cannot remain like a picture hanging on the wall, but we must intentionally seek to interact with all generations in our surroundings, even if it means leaving our comfort zone to try new and different things. Let us know the Wi-Fi password and even use TikTok to connect to all.
- What are the needs of the youth and the needs of the elderly?
- How to improve the communication between the youth and the elderly?
(The care of the flock, 1 Peter 5:5-9 / The duties toward others, 1 Timothy 5:1-4)