This past week we were in Utah celebrating a seventh birthday. What was most notable was that there were four generations present: my mother, my sister, her daughter, and her granddaughter. When you see ninety-two years and four generations of family it gives you pause to think about all those who came before and those who will come after.
Every family has its share of famous and/or infamous characters in its lineage. One of our most notable was Elbridge Gerry: signer of the Declaration of Independence (yeah), Vice-President to James Madison (yeah), person accredited with creating gerrymandering (oops).
As I look at the youngest members of the family, I wonder what is in store for them? What mark will they make on their world or the world as a whole.
Since The Lost Generation was coined (those born between 1883-1900) each subsequent generation has been named and characterized by the world they would experience and influence: The Greatest Generation, The Silent Generation, The Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, Generation Alpha, and now Generation Beta.
This latest group’s world will be characterized by AI, automation, and pervasive technology and many of this generation are expected to live into the 22nd century.
The Bible speaks a lot about generations too, but not in terms of the world and its effect, but of families and their effects. Generations are seen as “a continuum, emphasizing the transfer of faith, the enduring nature of God’s covenant across time, and generational accountability.”
One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your might acts.” Psalm 145:4
“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.” Psalm 102:18
“That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children . . .” Psalm 78:6
It is fun to research which ancestors made a significant splash in the world’s pond and exciting to dream about what future descendants might achieve to better society, but the most important mark any family can make is to leave a lasting impression of God’s goodness and justice, be a living testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness, and teach the next generation of God’s love and commandments.
Every family has its share of famous and/or infamous characters in its lineage. One of our most notable was Elbridge Gerry: signer of the Declaration of Independence (yeah), Vice-President to James Madison (yeah), person accredited with creating gerrymandering (oops).
As I look at the youngest members of the family, I wonder what is in store for them? What mark will they make on their world or the world as a whole.
Since The Lost Generation was coined (those born between 1883-1900) each subsequent generation has been named and characterized by the world they would experience and influence: The Greatest Generation, The Silent Generation, The Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z, Generation Alpha, and now Generation Beta.
This latest group’s world will be characterized by AI, automation, and pervasive technology and many of this generation are expected to live into the 22nd century.
The Bible speaks a lot about generations too, but not in terms of the world and its effect, but of families and their effects. Generations are seen as “a continuum, emphasizing the transfer of faith, the enduring nature of God’s covenant across time, and generational accountability.”
One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your might acts.” Psalm 145:4
“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.” Psalm 102:18
“That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children . . .” Psalm 78:6
It is fun to research which ancestors made a significant splash in the world’s pond and exciting to dream about what future descendants might achieve to better society, but the most important mark any family can make is to leave a lasting impression of God’s goodness and justice, be a living testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness, and teach the next generation of God’s love and commandments.
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