GlocalNet

I love my daughter Jill’s generation - what is training for my generation, and the one between me and her (glocal), is natural for her.  I got a text from her on Saturday - we had a big youth event with over 200 teenagers - and part of the event was doing service projects all Saturday afternoon.  There were 12 projects involving all kinds of things from orphans to refugees, to giving water to road construction workers - you name it . . . .  She texted me “I just went around and all 225 kids were doing their stuff I put together!  It all worked out!!!:))))))))”  She also works with the Vietnamese exchange students that live with our church members - every Sunday afternoon and night she spends time with them and ministers to them.  In addition - without pay - she volunteers with world relief and visits families from Somalia.  She came home sad the other night I asked her what was wrong, she said, “My refugees are leaving me - they’re moving to another city hoping its better there.”  She told me how they cried, embraced, and wished one another well.  She is what Zogby now calls “1st Globals” generationally.  She has people on facebook whom I’ve met from all over the world who are different religions and from different countries who’s kids are intrigued by me and I tell them I have a daughter more extreme than me. They love it.  What do I see for this generation emerging globally?

1.  We’ve made a mess and they are going to have to clean it up.  I think their optimism is going to be their best trait because it’s going to be long and hard, but they can and they will do it.

2.  They are going to define what bridging looks like, like no other generation.  I’m not sure terms like conservative and liberal are going to stick with them.  I see this now in buster generation, but I think it will be more pronounced in the 1st Globals.  Rethinking who people are and how we relate and how the world operates in an interconnected way is going to be a big adventure for them.

3.  People are tired of walls.  They want to know one another.  Those who reach out are going to be swallowed up whole!  I probably have more Muslims following me on twitter than any evangelical alive!  Why?  I’ve come to know them, become friends with them and that isn’t something they’ve experienced from evangelicals. 

4.  The world will recreate itself.  First there was agriculture, then industrial, then knowledge and technology. What will the future be with reference to economics, etc?  We are up against a wall - something will give - it always has - or Jesus will come back - and that’s fine too. 

5.  I believe we are seeing the “reincarnation” of the greatest generation that was born in the 20’s and helped us through WWII - these are the optimists, the dreamers, those of us 35 and above need to do all we can to facilitate them and make room for them - . . . . They are our best hope ever!!!!