Hope for the next generation

I will explore a common theme this week. The younger generation. You remember them- they are the ones we constantly bash- calling them lazy, irresponsible, spoiled, and unappreciative. And I always remind you that you don’t have to look too far to find young folks who fit those descriptions. But to brand the entire youthful generation as incompetent and the potential ruination of civilized society is an accentuation of the negative, says me. I take up for the kids because I’m still one of them at heart. And also because I enjoy hanging around them. Yes, they can be silly, immature, and socially unacceptable. Most of them think nothing of breaking wind not only in front of each other, but also in public settings where thirty years ago, one who committed such a faux pas would have wilted from embarrassment. It’s mostly the boys but in these trying times, even the girls have gotten in on the act. And it astounds me. The “pull my finger” trick notwithstanding, I’m still unwilling to jump on the “Bash the Kids” bandwagon. That’s because I’ve seen them in action. Recently I spent a week with over 200 “lazy, incompetent, irresponsible, dispassionate, and inconsiderate” kids who gave up a week of their summer vacations to serve on a mission trip. On that mission trip- which they paid to go on- they worked five days in the scorching Georgia sun repairing houses for those who couldn’t afford to help themselves. They scraped, painted, roofed, repaired, hammered, and nailed. Up by 6 a.m. each morning, they spent their days working and their nights praising and worshipping. And for the third straight year, I was impressed. And blessed. My squad was comprised of two adults and five youth. By the end of the week we were a family. Katie Beth, Autumn, Haylee, Cameron, Jeremy, Rev Kev, and I spent the last evening of the trip handing out kudos to each other. These kids worked and worked without complaint, despite temperatures in the 90s. Haylee told everybody she came in contact with that Jesus loved them. Katie Beth was first in line when we visited folks in the hospital. Cameron prayed some of the most beautiful prayers a teen could utter and Jeremy said the blessing for the group lunch despite his obvious discomfort with praying out loud. Autumn took our leftover bag lunches to the folks in the neighborhood where we were working and distributed the food to people who probably hadn’t had lunch in a while. Rev Kev and I watched in amazement. And I wish you could have seen how the kids treated Ms. Edna, the lady whose house we were working on. They insisted we buy her some hanging plants from Wal-Mart. The kids told her they loved her and offered her their time and their prayers. When Ms. Edna told them she loved them the last day, I knew she meant it. And when I told them the same thing a few hours later, they knew I meant it. This generation is not doomed. The future, should we choose to be patient with the younger generation, does hold promises of hope. God bless you, younger generation. Maybe you deserve much of the criticism people toss your direction. Just don’t expect to catch any of it from me.