On our daily walks, Judy and I often meet others on the Paul Bunyan trail. One day we met Trent. He is friendly and engaging millennial. When we first met we would exchange pleasantries. Now our conversations takes more time. I am asking Trent more about his life story. One day I noticed he was wearing a New England Patriot jersey. He was number 8. I said I could not identify the number with a player on the team. That when he said, “number 8 is me.” On the back it had his last name “Daniels.”
I told Trent I was impressed with his determination to see himself as a unique person in his own right. I could tell that he was a thoughtful young man, who was intentional about his beliefs and lifestyle. He was not going to follow the crowd. I told him that I prayed for him daily.
Each time we meet it seems Trent has another t-shirt with the name of an rock band on the front. Among them are such groups as “pantera,” “Audio Slave,” “A Perfect Circle” and “Alice In Chains.” I went to I-tunes to sample Alice in Chains. It sure is not for me. This is what I read about Alice in Chains. “Alice in Chains puts a darker spin on 80”s hard rock, wielding a bubbling-tar grunge sound that anchored the 90’s alternative movement.”
One day I told Trent I had listened to an old favorite from my youth by a country western singer named Charlie Pride, entitled, “Crystal Chandeliers.” Our daughter was moving into our home on the lake. She had installed a crystal chandelier. I hope to share the song with my daughter and my three grandsons who are in their 20’s.
I share this budding relationship with Trent, because God have put a burden on my heart to reach out to the younger generation. As of now I am enrolled at the local junior college to be one of 20 students in a honors compositions class. I would like to learn more about relating to young adults with the intent of sharing the love of God.
The scripture that motivates me to reach out to the next generation is found in Ps 71:18, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all we are to come.” In the margin of my bible I wrote “my retirement – 5/11/10. That was over nine years ago.
I also wrote in the margin of Ps. 102:18-20 – “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.” I underlined the words, “the groans of the prisoners.” Many young people are suffering under the terrible burden of a post-Christian culture that gives them very little hope
I pray with the Psalmist for the next generation to hear of “the glorious deeds of the Lord” (4) – “so the next generation might know them – even the children not yet born – that they in turn might teach their children” (v.6). Oh, Lord may men reading this blog have the same burden.
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