People are spending more and more time trying to make themselves a replica of what they see on TV. This is where you see “you can be anything” and reality collide — right at the intersection of anxiety and depression.
Jean M. Twenge “Generation Me”
I’ve been reading Generation Me this past week, and every sentence has pierced my heart. Twenge is a researcher and also part of Genertation Me — defined as anyone older than a child and younger than a Baby Boomer. I’m on the bubble of this Generation Me, and I have characteristics of both Boomers and Generation Me’ers.
The premise is simple: Generation Me (the most wanted generation ever) is also prone to over-simplifying their dreams (of course I can be a movie star), being cynical about the national process (voting doesn’t change anything…everyone is pretty much crooked) and that they can accomplish anything they want individually but relatively nothing collectively. Most of the research is based on college surveys from the 1950’s until now.
It could be a dismal outook, because the author is right on so many levels. We have allowed television to set the standard of living for ourselves. And yet reality is usually something quite different. This sets us up for disappointment in a lifestyl most of the world would love to have. It keeps us discontent in whatever state we are in, not content as the apostle Paul would like us to be.
And yet I believe the author — not a Christian as far as I can tell — has missed the hopeful signs that are springing up in the next generation everywhere you look. Yes, they (we?) do things differently than the Boomers. They wear jeans and consider themselvs dressed up. They listen to different music, tattoo and pierce themselves with abandon, choose excentric career paths assuming a degree is not necessary.
But they also have heart, compassion, justice. This next gen is leading the way in a return of the church to social justice, to keeping the essence of Christ’s kingdom message. They are kicking our rears when it comes to getting out of the four church walls and impacting the community. They are gathering together in places like Catalyst and Q and IdeaCamp and other conferences and teaching each other how to make a difference in the world. They take theology — dry and sometimes academic — and turn it into action. They buy shoes for bare feet, dig wells for thirsty people, rescue girls in sexual slavery and harness the power of social media to create mass movements.
It may have started out as Generation Me, but I’m betting that it’s turning into Generation We even as we speak. And I’m proud to be on a tiny edge of it.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Somehow I knew you’d come around and see the hopeful side and speak “Generation We” into being. Your belief in this generation and it’s potential with Christ is such an example. rock on!
Sweet blog. I never know what I am going to come across next. I think you should do more posting as you have some pretty intelligent stuff to say.
I’ll be watching you .