“You are a snowflake!” 

“You are a boomer!” 

If you ever heard one of these statements, I hope you realize they are insults. Insults to generations. Insults to children, parents and grandparents. 

The NIV Bible in 1 Peter 2:9 tells us, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” But, the King James tell us, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 
 
A GENERATION-not generations. A chosen people, not “peoples”.  

All connected. All one. Not predicated on age or gender, but a group of people called one. (We don’t pray, “my Father”, but “OUR Father”.) 

This morning, I went to a restaurant to meet a friend for coffee. I went to order my coffee. The young woman, said, “Is that all you want?” I was like, “I didn’t order yet.” She told me my “regular” order and said, “you are royalty here”. Let me say, it was a great start to my day. 🙂 

See, that is the other part. We are a royal priesthood. Together! ONE! 

AND WE ARE ONE GENERATION! 

I value the child as much as I value the parent. I honor the child. I honor the parent. I completely believe that “Christ in each one of them is the HOPE of glory.” 

In my own life, I have taken one of my grandchildren, and begun a journey we currently call Lee and Jacob Generations Together. A video channel where we talk about technologies and items of the past and present. (You can follow us on Youtube and/or Facebook.) 

With a young friend, he and I are starting a podcast, called “Bridging the Gap”. He is 30 years younger, but we have built our relationship on our personal diversity. The podcast will talk about things like social media, politics, relationships and more. He would tell you there are lots of areas we might not agree on but how else do we bring resolution, compromise and agreement, without dialog. 

And next week, yet, another young man and I will be talking about politics, religion and more. 

Why do I think those things are important? Because they are PEOPLE! And we will never bridge gaps, stop the tide of division or connect people, if we do not make the effort and hang in there! 

We have talked about respect, but we have failed in so many areas to bring honor. Honor is not earned. It does not expect anything in return. The purpose of honor is to lift up another. Honor will always respect, but respect will not always be honor. 

In this Christly generation, there are age differences, but that ought to not stop us from honor and conversations and actions, that uplift and encourage. 

I know many who are in my generation, who are fearful for what the upcoming generations bring. Their fear is all to often unfounded and yet it continues to be driven by politics, media and social media. I know many in the younger generations who feel older generations have left them with a world of insecurity.  

We need to gather up and begin to walk together.  

I do not profess to have all the answers, but there are a few things I read in scripture. 

Malachi 4:6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. 

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails… 

Each one of those requires faith in the Lord and the willingness to be obedient. I think it is worth it.