We are often blind to the discrimination that exists between the old and young. Ageism is a real problem and it works both ways.
The young do not want stuffy talking heads who behave condescendingly towards them; they want approachable parents/leaders who will share a meal, listen, ask questions and invite co-equal participation.
The older generations do not want the young to make them feel a little like a pair of discarded old shoes as friends become all important and at the same time living in their own world of trendy culture complete with buzzwords and technological 'savvy-ness'.
We're drifting apart. I'm concerned that if the generations dont link arms and start working together, the gap will widen. The result will be huge lost opportunities for the gospel to save the prebelievers.
All is not lost however in this age and time. Some parents are now more savvy, more approachable than 1 or 2 generations ago. I have seen young people with exceptional maturity, spiritual anointing and more openness with older people. They recognise their need for input from the older generation.
Peter and I have had a handful of mentors in our lives. There is one couple who helped us in our marriage, showed us their home, lifestyle and how they handled their young children. Another personal mentor would be one who is also your accountability partner. This mentor knows everything about you, including all your faults and weaknesses. This person can ask you the 'hard' questions about your attitudes, your thought life and your marriage and that mentor is willing to challenge you. These kinds of relationships are so important if we all want to grow spiritually.
Sadly as my husband and I counselled the young couples, we discovered that more than 90% of them do not have mentors at all. Their advice came from peers who are not only inexperienced but also have a host of problems to which they can find no answers to.
When the holy spirit was poured out on the early church, Peter (Jesus' disciple) declared that both old and young would receive supernatural power.
Acts 2:17 "In the last days, God says I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
Implied in the above vs is the idea that God wants the generations to work together. If we want to experience that same level of anointing (see visions/dream dreams) today, we must end this awkwardness and reach out to each other and bridge the gap.