Tonight as family and friends across the nation gathered to celebrate Independence and fireworks, life and love, and as my own family gathered around the bonfire and food, these things which are the Fourth of July, I found myself pondering a thought. I was struck by the vast generational gaps before me. As I interacted with grandparents and great aunts and uncles, and then with their children, my own parents, aunts and uncles, there seemed to be such a disparity.
Swaying on the hammock, looking out at the lake, I contemplated this observation. It seems to me that at the heart of it all is love. From one generation to the next our concept of love has drastically changed; and yet again with our own generation. I found myself, repeatedly, migrating towards my grandparents’ social circle, rather than my parents. Why? Their generation LOVES. They radiate it. They are faithful, communal, and humble. They are always looking out for the other. Most of them gave up much in order to give the world to their children.
On the other hand, you have my parents’ generation whose concept of love is much more individualized and has much more to do with “me.” They are a generation who is worried about #1, not the “other.” They are a generation whose children were often raised by nannies and whose careers become more important than friendships and communal events. I do not, however, claim that my grandparents’ generation was without flaw, or my parents’ generation without noteworthy character. I simply mean to say what I observed at a barbecue on the Fourth of July 2009.
I do, however, believe that we must admit that we have lost something as of late. That our grandparents are wise treasures, looking glasses into simpler times, times of family, hard work, great friends, delicious food, boisterous laughter, resounding joy, and most of all love. Perhaps, if we are wise enough to see this hidden gem, our generation too will find the love of the ages.
Abundant Life 