It's Still Okay to Share Your Wisdom!

It’s still okay to share your wisdom!!

Perhaps that seems like something that doesn’t need to be said out loud. If you are a parent in the Gen X cohort or above, you were accustomed to people older than you sharing information with you, teaching you how to do things, giving their opinion. But, in the rapidly changing world we now all face, even this, the idea that older people can share information with younger people, seems to be under attack.  Tim Elmore (Generation Z Unfiltered, 2019) has noted that Gen Z is the first generation in the history of the world that does not need to go to another human being for information. Multiple answers to any question can be found online in moments. In response, many parents feel silenced. They commit to loving in ACTION (ALWAYS a good idea) but feel they must remain quiet in WORD so as not to offend or alienate anyone. Elmore suggests, however, that there are still ways to stay in the game with respect to sharing wisdom verbally with young people. Understand that while the internet can provide information, people with experience are still needed to provide perspective, as well as a caring connected relationship that provides a steady point of attachment. Young people are suffering epidemic levels of anxiety and depression…partly, perhaps, because secure foundations are hard to come by.

Believe it or not, young people are attracted to truth-tellers – people who will thoughtfully and respectfully share what they really think and feel. In fact, in an interaction with college-age students at a recent church event, the students shared that something they wanted in their life, but were having a hard time finding, was a mentor. They defined this as someone who would invest in them, listen carefully, and offer honest feedback.  Clearly this is not permission to try to control our young people, or disrespect their personal thoughts, feelings and plans. But we should not feel compelled to remain silent either. James 3:17 offers some guidance with respect to the attitude that should be foundational to our interactions.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Present yourself to young people this way and I am confident they will be open to considering what you have to say!