“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26 NIV)
Starting in grad school, I began to develop friendships with people who were much older than me. Some were mentors or friends for a season of life, and some have remained friends for decades now. For all of their influences in my life, I am grateful. Recently I attended the surprise birthday party of a friend and former neighbor who was turning 70. This party was organized by her children and included several of her out-of-state friends who had come in for the occasion. It was a lovely celebration of decades of family, friendships, and love.
Recently I realized that at least five of my good friends have now passed the 70-years mark, and that they are all of the generation labeled “Baby Boomers.” If you’re not familiar with that term, the “Baby Boomers” are children born between 1945-1967 in the post World War II “baby boom.” That generation was, demographically, the largest generation ever born in the U.S., and their coming-of-age years in the 1960’s and 1970’s were some of our culture’s most tumultuous. Today many of them are moving into retirement or beyond, but they are still influential in our society.
Several years ago I was doing a lot of informal reading about generations’ qualities and impacts, and I developed a disdain for this generation that is only one generation older than mine. After all, I thought, they were the ones that largely jettisoned morality, Biblical worldviews, conservatism, and many Judeo-Christian and Western Culture foundations that have left our nation weakened and adrift. As I study history – knowing that my own participation in it makes me biased – it seems like since the 1970’s our society has been slowly, and then more and more quickly, coming apart. While it’s not fair to blame one cohort of people for all of society’s ills, their influence has been outsized partly because they are a large demographic. It seemed that as they moved through the seasons of life, their jettisoning has impacted every aspect of society, in positive and negative ways.
[If you are a Baby Boomer and thinking that I believe you are personally responsible for the nation’s troubles, I don’t. Stay with me a few more paragraphs; it gets better.]
However, recently it dawned on me that the Baby Boomer generation had something in their growing up that subsequent generations haven’t had: a society that was largely, even if loosely, based on shared basic values. After all, the kids of the 1950’s and 1960’s generally grew up going to church weekly, saying the Pledge of Allegiance daily in school, and knowing that if they did something bad, it would get back to their parents and they would pay a penalty. I believe such “anchors” would have benefited later generations and, by extension, our entire society. But, that ship has sailed, and with it (perhaps) our hope for our nation.
Is it fair to blame a generation for all the problems of the world?
Well, no; it’s not.
God recently convicted me that I owe the generation of the Baby Boomers an apology. Your generation really messed some things up, but you weren’t raised in a vacuum. The ideas that have gradually ripped apart the social fabric were there even before you came into being. And, of course, speaking of “a generation” means painting with a VERY, VERY wide brush over people who may or may not fit the brush’s colors. My Baby Boomer friends have been lovely people, kind, faithful, generous, friendly, caring, and people who have made a difference in their families, their communities, and in their friends. So, Baby Boomer friends, I’m sorry I lumped you in with all the others of your generation. I am grateful for your friendships and roles in my life. I appreciate your contributions to the world. And I know that our nation would be much less interesting without you. So, Happy 70th(-ish) Birthdays, Baby Boomer Friends!
God of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,
Thank you for the gifts and graces you give each generation, and for the plans you have for the generation as a whole and each individual within that generation. Teach us to remember that each individual life is precious and valuable to you, whether older or younger. Teach us to see individuals and groups with your eyes of faith, love, and grace. Teach us to count the blessings that each person brings to our collective society, whether or not we agree with them on all points. Forgive us (forgive me!) when my thoughts, words, or actions toward someone or toward a group of people is not based on the way you see them. Give us pure hearts, wise leaders, quality advice, and good friends. May disaster catch up to the wicked, but may trustworthy people bring peace to our era. Be the God of this time and for generations to come, we ask in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
“God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.” (Proverbs 22:11 MSG)
“Beautiful oil and perfume may give you joy. But good advice from a friend is even better.” (Proverbs 27:9 EASY)
“Disaster will catch up to the wicked messenger, but a runner who can be trusted will bring peace.” (Proverbs 13:17 ERV)
“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” (Genesis 17:7 NIV)