Who would have thought that a hurricane that made landfall in Florida could have such devastating effects more than one thousand miles away in the hills of Appalachia?
So it is with life. Just as the literal devastation of places so far away from the origination of Hurricane Helene in late September 2024 wreaked destruction, ill-advised life choices can have consequences for not only those who made the choice, but others who might be collaterally affected.
I have been participating for a few weeks in a men’s study at the church I attend called BetterMan. The focus thus far has been on the effects our fathers had on bringing us to our current life situation.
Fathers are important because the decisions they make during their children’s early years of growth and development directly impact decisions that those children will make throughout their lives, particularly when it comes to raising their own children.
I received a Facebook post recently that went something like this:

Great-Grandfather attended church every time the doors were open
Grandfather determined that church attendance was optional
Father determined that church attendance was not necessary
Son asked, “Jesus who?”

Google informs that there have been many generations:

The Lost Generation (1883-1900)
The Greatest Generation (1901-1927)
The Silent Generation (1928-1945)
The Baby Boomer Generation (1946-1964)
Generation X (1965-1980)
Millennials (1981-1996)
Generation Z (1996-2012)
Gen Alpha (2013-2025)

Each generation, like the people who comprised those groups, had their successes and their burdens to bear. It is held by many people that there is a great decline with each passing generation. Seemingly each succeeding generation heavily criticizes previous generations, often blaming them for the current ills of the world. The specific characteristics described for each generation vary per writer, so many points of view exist. A person can find material to both support and refute personal opinions.
The Greatest Generation experienced economic success and advances in technology in their childhoods, followed by the challenges of the Great Depression. Their mid- to later years revolved around World War II. The Greatest Generation developed problem-solving skills necessary to survival during hardship, characterized by personal responsibility, humility, a strong work ethic, frugality, commitment, integrity, and self-sacrifice. The youngest survivors of the Greatest Generation are in their nineties. (Source: https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/greatest-generation-years-characte… Retrieved October 1, 2024)
For a religious perspective on Generation Z, I accessed information from Rob Jackson, a state missionary for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. Per Mr. Jackson, Generation Z comprises the largest age group, 27% of the American population. “Zs” are tech savvy, 92% online daily. That feeds into another “Z” characteristic, a high rate of access to pornography. Per Jackson, “A recent survey of college students found that 90% of in-coming first-year students had watched porn before college, with 10% admitting to regularly watching it.” Generation “Z-ers” do not hold traditional biblical sexual mores—overall they have high acceptance with alternate lifestyles and gender roles. Members of Generation Z are racially diverse, independent thinkers, and constantly reminded of a troubled world (9/11, the Great Recession). They are justice-minded and want to make a difference in the world. While Jackson termed them “post-Christian”, they are open to faith. While only four in ten claim to attend religious services, 78% say they believe in God. (Source: https://leadercareal.org/10-traits-of-gen-z/ Retrieved October 1, 2024)
So, what’s on the horizon? According to one source, Gen Alphas are characterized by: a focus on family and the future; advocacy for climate; passion about inclusivity; more and more time spent online; and seeing movies in an actual theater. (Source: https://blog.gwi.com/marketing/us-gen-alpha-characteristics/ Retrieved October 1, 2024)
I read recently that the Baby Boomer generation (those born from 1946-1964 per Google) were termed the ME generation, while Millennials were termed the ME ME ME generation (Lifeway Press, “Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adult KJV Personal Study Guide, 12:1, Fall 2024, p. 61). If this trend were continuous, the Alpha Generation would be termed the ME ME ME ME ME generation! Is each succeeding generation indeed becoming more focused on self to the detriment of everything else?
It depends upon what you, Dear Reader, choose to read and believe. The brightest spot I read in my brief search about the current Gen Alphas is their focus on family and the future. Undoubtedly the recent COVID episode will figure highly into the future. As long as there is indeed a focus on family, I personally feel that all is not yet lost.
In my earlier years of higher education much was written and said about the “self-fulfilling prophecy”. Basically, that meant that if bad things were expected of a child, bad things would occur; conversely, if good things were expected, outcomes would be much more positive. This is another way of saying “rising to the level of expectations”.
Let us, Dear Reader, try to help the future generation by expecting good things of them. In spite of troubles, and there are several, let us expect and hope for the best. After all, our great American nation, due to the virtues of (and at times in spite of the shortcomings of) previous generations survived the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, the influenza epidemic, The Roaring Twenties, The Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Watergate, 9/11, COVID . . .

ANSWER TO QUESTION OF THE WEEK # 33
How can you save money on having suits dry cleaned? ANSWER: A gentleman took his suit to the cleaners, who wanted to charge him $40, so he gave it to the charity shop next door. They cleaned and pressed it and put it in the window. The man bought his suit back for $15.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK # 33
His wife said: "That's the 4th time you've gone back for dessert! Doesn't it embarrass you?" How did the man reply? (See next week’s article in historicunioncounty.com for the answer.)

EMAIL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SILENT GENERATION

Most of you have deceased. The oldest of you would be ninety-six years old this year, the youngest seventy-nine.

You were the smallest group of children born since the early 1900s.

You were the last generation, climbing out of the depression, who can remember the winds of war and the impact of a world at war which rattled the structure of our daily lives for years.

You were the last to remember ration books for everything from gas to sugar to shoes to stoves.

You saved tin foil and poured fat into tin cans.

You can remember milk being delivered to your house early in the morning and placed in the "milk box" on the porch.

You were the last to see the gold stars in the front windows of grieving neighbors whose sons died in the War.

You saw the 'boys' home from the war, build their little houses.

The Government gave returning Veterans the means to get an education and spurred colleges to grow. Loans fanned a housing boom. Pent up demand, coupled with new installment payment plans, opened many factories for work.

New highways would bring jobs and mobility.

The Veterans joined civic clubs and became active in politics.

Your parents were suddenly free from the confines of the depression and the war, and they threw themselves into exploring opportunities they had never imagined.

You weren't neglected, but you weren't today's all-consuming family focus. They were glad you played by yourselves until the street lights came on. They were busy discovering the post war world.

You entered a world of overflowing plenty and opportunity; a world where you were welcomed, enjoyed yourselves and felt secure in your future, though depression poverty was deeply remembered.

Polio was still a crippler.

Only your generation can remember both a time of great war, and a time when our world was secure and full of bright promise and plenty. You grew up at the best possible time, a time when the world was getting better!