I love some of the things one can read on the internet. For instance, “You Can’t Believe Most of the Quotes You Read On the Internet” -Abraham Lincoln. There’s a lot of truth to that statement. And I guess the question that arises from all of this is when did the internet become the gold standard for the impartation of knowledge. I recognize that there is unprecedented access to information that dwarfs all of the libraries of the ancient world, but is this really what it is supposed to be about? I mean if you ask anyone to look up something or to try to define a concept in today’s world they immediately go to Google. And the craziest part of all of this…we rarely question the information handed to us on this electronic platter. On the contrary we all to often have become distrusting and cynical when it comes to people.
And this is scary for a lot of reasons. To begin with there really isn’t a great way to validate the information given to us by the internet. Credentials can be faked and people can even be credited with saying things they never said i.e. Abraham Lincoln above. Why would we value the message over the messenger? But this is really where the issue takes root. Because of online social communities and instant message interactions (this even extends into text messaging) we really have lost the presence of valuable relationship outside of the electronic super highway. Over and over again I have had students have an easier time expressing themselves to me online than in a room face to face.
And I know that this breakdown of relationship between my generation and the younger has it’s negative implications, but the relationships I fear that we are losing the most is our reverence for the older generations and the value or lack thereof placed upon their wisdom. I think it would be safe to say that most of the generation over sixty (I don’t want to generalize too much) most often feel labels like irrelevant, out-dated or technologically challenged becoming their monicker instead of wise or learned. But the Bible has something to say on this. Proverbs 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” Gray hair is attained in walking rightly through life. I even remember some of the older members in my family blaming the gray hairs on the younger ones in our family in a joking fashion. And yet in our day and age this gray hair has become a curse instead of a crown.
The questions raised in my mind sound a bit like this….what lessons are we doomed to repeat when we don’t listen to those who have come before? What value are we placing on life experience and life in general when we ignore those who have lived longer than us? When did youth’s adaptation to information medium begin to outweigh the wisdom of those who lived said information and medium development? And lastly, what happens to grandpa’s stories and grandma’s heritage when we have placed them both on the shelf?
May we be so bold as to begin to value grandpa over Google once again and assign to life true value as it is lived by those who have come before.
arpology 
I really hate gray hair, there is no way we can totally avoid gray hair but Biotin helps in delaying the appearance of more gray hair. “.`'”
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Well, I tried posting already, but it didn’t seem to work out. I’ll try to remember what I said. I was basically saying I think “honor your mother and father” ties into this. Not honoring as in “do what you’re told,” but a deep honoring of the life they have lived, which translates to any member of the older generations. I think a great sin of my generation is the lack of this honoring because somewhere we’ve been taught that creativity is uniqueness/newness a part from everything else including “old stuff.” The interesting factor of this, however, is how the world really is globalizing more and more, and it influences/transforms culture, faith, the world, etc. more rapidly. This changes the scene for a younger generation, which changes the game for an older generation as well. I would also say an older generation should not try and force a particular way of life onto a newer generation because the context can often be incredibly different. I’ve experienced the “do it this way” mentality, and it didn’t really fit my particular context. I think a mutual listening should occur. I lament the way older generations are tossed aside in an ever quickening world as if they are all washed up. This just isnt’ true. They are valuable, in fact integral, members of society and deeply loved by Abba, which is so much more important than the value a “production society” places on them, or anyone for that mater. Anyways, those are my rants. Thanks for the post.
I also think “honor your mother and father” ties into this. The sense of not just “listening to your parents,” but really valuing and engaging in those that have really lived life. Culture is changing rapidly with the continued growth of globalization it seems like, and that type of world really is a foreign and new conversation to most in the older generation. The fact remains, however, that the expanse of globalization and “knowledge” has lost touch with the wisdom of simple life–not simple as in stupid or outdated, but simple as in simplicity, a spiritual virtue. I think one of the great sins of my generation is the lack of this honoring the accumulated life experience of previous generations–it seems we’ve been taught somewhere that “creativity as newness/uniqueness from everything else” is the only thing valued. I also think, however, their life experience cannot be forcefully projected onto an upcoming generation because the world, life, faith really is being transformed. I’ve experience the attempted “you have to do it this way” when the situation really didn’t fit into my context. I would love to see mutual listening and appreciation. Anyways, those are just a couple thoughts that came to my mind after reading this. Thanks for the post.
That’s why it’s important for grandchildren (children) to spend time with grandparents (or elders), especially those who interact with them and tell them stories of their past. You can obtain a lot of info on family history, stories from those who served in past wars, etc. by talking and interacting with those a generation or two older than us. Once they’re gone and passed from this life to the next, that info is gone (if you haven’t already written the stories down). I’m thankful for time spent with my grandmas and other family members who have shared with me life from the “olden days”!!
AMEN brother