Thought for the Week - 13/6/2021

Dear Friends, 

Are you familiar with the terms ‘Generation X, Baby Boomers and Millennials’? These are a few of the labels which put together everyone who is roughly about the same age and links them to one of the seven generations, thus, ‘The Greatest Generation (people born between 1901-1927); The Silent Generation (1928-45); Baby Boomers (1946-64); Generation X (1965-80); Millennials or Generation Y (1981-95); Generation Z (1996-2010); and Generation Alpha (2011 onwards). But I wonder if you have heard of ‘Generation Fear’, usually associated with Millennials but which I think can also be given to anyone? There are many reasons why they have this somewhat negative label, one being the rise of social media, where the online world can be vicious, dangerous and unforgiving, and can cause huge anxiety. We only have to think about some of the online spats that occupy the pages of the tabloids and can suck not only those involved in a disagreement, but also many of their online followers, into making statements that they would probably think twice about saying to someone face to face. And then of course there is the issue that things that have been said online can never be taken back, so for instance things said in the rashness of youth can come back to haunt us later in life and damage a reputation and career. The Bible is full of examples of people who were scared, often describing how such fear can rob a person of peace. But the Bible also highlights for us the answer to fear, trusting in the promises that God speaks over our lives and being known and loved by God. Looking elsewhere for meaning and purpose in life we will often end up in the wrong place, and instead we are encouraged to look up and trust in God. The Psalmist writes, ‘I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2). That help is the realisation that we are loved, forgiven, strengthened and given peace through the storms of life, and when we live like this, believing this, then we can have confidence and hope no matter what we face in life.   

Grace and peace,

Neil

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