“ok boomer”
It is an irrefutable, excessively obvious, unassailable, conclusive truth of the cosmos that goldendoodles are the cutest living creatures. I am fortunate enough to live with a goldendoodle named Valley. Valley has an unbelievable ability to match my own mood of laziness or playfulness. She enjoys getting out of the house, cheese, and holding hands. She really is the best dog in the world. However, our family recently discovered a hidden character trait that Valley has been hiding from us for years. It was dinnertime in the Ford house when my dad bent down to pet Valley as she was eating her freshly poured dog food, and an unexpected and uncharacteristic growl filled the entire kitchen. Valley felt threatened by an act of affection, not because she dislikes human contact, but because it was dinner time. Her primal instincts summoned an aggressive vocal response to protect her food. There is a subconscious system of protection of food that has been placed within dogs since the beginning of their existence. This system of protection manifests in Valley any time a hand gets near her or her food during dinner time. No one had to teach Valley this system of protection, it is woven within her DNA.
Humans also have millions of subconscious tendencies that we overlook every single day. These tendencies have been present since Eden. I firmly believe that one of the innate desires that God has placed within all people is the need for intergenerational relationships, and more specifically, intergenerational discipleship.
There has been a wildly popular internet meme that has been circulating for several months titled "ok boomer." These posts tend to expose the chasm of relatability and understanding between younger people and older people. Millennials and Gen Z tend to find these memes absolutely hilarious, while Baby Boomers often find the posts offensive. For a punchline to be effective in almost every joke, there has to be a level of relatability or truth to what is being said. There is a level of truth behind what is being joked about. I think it is time that we analyze the implications of this meme deeper than the humor and ask the simple question, "Why do so many young people relate to this joke?"
Due to the popularity of the "ok boomer" meme, it is fair to assess that the majority of younger people feel a relational disconnect between older people and younger people. Of course, the lack of relevancy between the age groups is partially natural - younger people and older people live different lives, so there won’t be a perfect understanding of one another. However, I am willing to argue that this relational gap has spread far too wide. Furthermore, it seems that deep within the hearts of young people, there is a longing for unity among all generations. When you scratch past the layer of comedy in this meme, it seems that there is a sincere cry for multi-generational relationships. Without realizing what they are doing, young people are manifesting the innate desire to be discipled by the seasoned people of the world, much like my goldendoodle's primal tendency to growl to protect her food.
Millennials and Gen Z admit that the Baby Boomers have an abundance of wisdom and value to offer them, but a disconnect remains between the age groups Who is to blame for this? The answer is simple: everyone. We all are responsible. The devastating reality of the Western Church is that multi-generational discipleship is a rarity. The chasm and relational gap will not merge until all people are willing to intentionally seek out these relationships.
I have a simple piece of encouragement to everyone that is reading this. Right now, whether you are 18, 80, or 45, think about a person older than you that can guide you spiritually, and think about a person younger than you that could use your guidance. Reach out to that person today. Ask for help from those older and wiser, and ask to help those younger and needing direction. I am 21 years old, and I have desired spiritual guidance from older generations for years - I was just too afraid to ask until recently. I now have a mentor that meets with me weekly, and my life has changed due to the wisdom that he consistently offers me. There's probably a lot of fearful young people like me that desire these vital relationships, but don't feel comfortable asking for them. Fight the fear of awkwardness and simply reach out to those people that the Holy Spirit is placing on your heart right now. This basic human need for inter-generational relationships must be filled. What if Christians could influence culture with their radical dedication to intergenerational relationships? Let's fill the void.
SIDE NOTE: If you're looking for a resource to help you with the intergenerational discipleship process, read The Passion Generation by Grant Skeldon.
