BRIDGING THE GENERATIONS

One of the excitements which has come into my life as I have ventured into the realm of Face Book these last few weeks is the rush that comes as in that 'internet way' arms are extended and 'reality' type embraces are exchanged with special people of my past and present. An even more exciting thing happens to me as I witness the clever and creative exchanges of ideas as with 'light year' speed they buzz across cyberspace. Hope swells within me each time I read and digest the wisdom and the entertaining thoughts which are being transmitted.

However, a few small regrets come into my heart as I scan the registers of friend's photos searching for one more wonderful person to add to my personal book of memories and read the daily entries of those friends I have already reconnected with:

First – I feel some yearning to see more gray haired friends among the vibrant and lustrous hair crowning the young who, by well understood reasons, dominate this wonderful networking system.

Second – I wish I was more educated in the technical language and shortcuts that are frequently used which bring added expression and excitement to this medium.

Third – I am sometimes left saddened that some expressions acceptable in the world have too easily become mainstays in the vocabularies of those who should be able to choose more acceptable terms.

Fourth – I find myself and others who do sprout the gray have a tendency to mimic the style and philosophies of the young rather than making contributions from their own experiences in their own unique ways. In many ways I think it would of greater benefit to everyone if each generation were to add their bit of uniqueness to the pile rather than just trying to fit into an accepted style.

As I have contemplated the wonder of the limited generational sharing which I have witnessed, my only wish is that it could exist on a much grander scale and the following thoughts have come into mind:

First – Those who have chosen to look at the traditions of their fathers as binding and restrictive may find themselves swinging the pendulum of much needed change so far that they soon find themselves traversing a tangent that may be exciting but risky and even in some cases destructive. It is true that this "the experience of age is of little value" has been the spring board of many great discoveries, but it likewise has been the cause of a great deal of wasted time and effort as each generation reinvents the wheel with zeal and excitement as they spin about on a never ending merry-go-round of sameness, wasting the opportunity they might have had if they had chosen to build on foundations others had firmly planted.

Second – Those who are locked into the point of view that "there is no wisdom that does not come from experience" will often find themselves lingering too long on some plateaus or robbing themselves of wonderful adventures and improvements which will magnify their lives because they are unable to get out of the ever deepening ruts they have dug by traversing the same ground over and over again; thus hampering their own progress and probably that of mankind on some kind of misguided premise that if grandfather got along fine without all this 'new fangled stuff', so can they.

As the miracles of medical and nutritional knowledge increase they bring forth higher rates of successful births and extend life expectancies decades beyond the dreams of our forefathers; we increasingly find ourselves with greater numbers of multiple generations sharing the planet. It would do us well to learn some way to make time to ponder and include the contributions of past generations while keeping our minds open to the marvelous creative discoveries of each rising generation.

A well thought out balance may be the leavening force we need as we make the philosophical choices which govern our lives. Regularly working and adjusting our thoughts until we find that harmony of minds which will neither administer undue restraint nor foster unnecessary delays as we re-walk the worn paths of past generations. Through a balanced blending of generational thoughts we may be able to pursue proper solutions to problems by calling upon the strengths of one generation to buoy up the weaknesses of another.

Those of the gray haired generation would do well to get themselves out of the security of their tired routines and give new zest to their lives by mingling with and accepting the thoughts of that generation which still has the vigor and drive to match their wonderful flowing locks.

Those who are crowned with vibrant and lustrous hair could find themselves saving many miles of going down dead end roads which waste time, which time is still to be valued even in our scientifically lengthened lives, by being willing to go down tested and examined roads which have been wisely built and well-marked by earlier travelers who now are crowned with heads of gray.

What a great legacy we could leave to future generations if we could some how learn how to bring about this balanced blending of past experiences and present discoveries. Somehow a hope lingers that if we can bring about a real and meaningful generational sharing we will be able to magnify the possibility of a brighter and more blessed future for those children recently born and those yet to be born.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY - WILLIAM L. RILEY