"Every generation revolts against its fathers and makes friends with its grandfathers." ~ Lewis Mumford, (1895-1995), American historian and sociolgist

Good morning and welcome to today's episode. It is Thursday, May 8, 2025, and, it looks like we have a beautiful day ahead. I am not Catholic but it's hard to miss the coverage being devoted to the choosing of the next Pope. Here's what's interesting to me. Here in the United States it is being covered more like college game day or perhaps coverage of an NFL game. Split-screens with Vatican experts giving live play by play of the potential activities going on behind the closed door sessions where votes are being counted four times each day. As Charles Barkley once said about a mind boggling play on the basketball court, "I don't know what the word surreal means but that play is just that, surreal." That's kind of my view of the coverage of the next Pope, wall to wall, so to speak. One interesting side note. An analyst pointed out the obvious tidbit where all the technologies of the world are currently focused on recognizing a signal from a smokestack. Hey, let's face it. With 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, well, as the current occupant of the Oval Office might say, "The potential ratings are H_U_G_E!"

 

I know you know that I am fascinated by the generational identity classifications, Perhaps too much so. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) assessment puts it this way: "Generational identities are defined by an individual's awareness of their membership in a generational group and the significance of that group to them. These identities are often shaped by shared historical experiences, technological advancements, and cultural contexts. Generational identities can also intersect with other identity markers like gender, race, and national context." There are numerous ways the so-called experts break down the dates that match these made up tags. That's right. They are made up. They know who actually coined the names of these various identity groups. Here's one breakdown: Traditionalists—born 1925 to 1945; Baby Boomers—born 1946 to 1964; Generation X—born 1965 to 1980; Millennials—born 1981 to 2000; Generation Z—born 2001 to 2020; Alpha, still being worked on. That doesn't match the photo graphic because there are differing ideas even among scholars on how to break these out. For instance, I was born in 1946, the so called starting year for the boomer generation. That most likely puts me with one foot in the previous generation and its influences on me while it being very clear I have next to nothing in common with those born in the tail end of the boomer generation, those born in the 1960's. While I enjoy reading about all of these designations, in many ways the vaunted analyses of it all in many ways do not amount to a hill of beans. (I heard that one a lot growing up, maybe from those in the greatest and silent generations. Ha!)

 

My point? The Source of all truth, God's Holy Word, the Bible says this: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." (Hebrews 9, 27-28) Regardless of what generation we were born to live in we stand in need of God's provision. That's right. Every man, woman, boy, and girl. God has provided a way for us to be made right with Himself and to live in His presence for all of eternity, here's how Jesus put it: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Old or young, the answer to our greatest need is wrapped up in seeking Him, for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)  Jesus is the answer to how generations become united as one. In Him. Okay. You can quote me on this one. Go ahead. I dare you. Double dog. Just joking. Have a God-blessed day and I'll see you next time, Lord willing. Amen.