An ode to connectivity

It’s startling how interconnected our lives really are.

A group of young adults recently decided to blitz their neighbourhood, raking fall leaves for unsuspecting homeowners. Most people accepted the free service with thanks and a certain amount of bewilderment. But for some neighbours, remuneration was necessary. One particular owner thrust several jars of homemade honey into the hands of a raker and cheerfully communicated his appreciation.

Upon closer inspection of the honey jar, the young man recognized the name on the label. Where had he seen it before? Instinctively, he pulled out a pamphlet from his pocket and read an ad for a debate at the local university between a prominent Christian speaker and a devout atheist – the same man with the leaves and honey; the very man who had just been blessed by the kindness of a group of strangers in the name of Jesus.

God tangles the circumstances of our lives in miraculous ways, person to person and generation to generation. But how soon we forget (or attempt to eradicate) this interrelatedness. North American society, in its propensity toward independence, has trained us to detach from one another. We’ve lost sight of the threads of connectivity that hold us together.

Even in the church, we are quick to “silo” ministries, dividing people along the lines of age, gender, special interests, etc. until it is possible to never interact with those who are remotely different from us. Adults worship in the sanctuary. Kids worship downstairs. Youth worship on Tuesday nights when no one else is around to be bothered by the noise. One church is full of young families, while the congregation down the road is predominantly filled with seniors. Frankly, some of these trends seem destructive and contrary to the community ideals we profess to hold.

If we never spend time (serving, worshipping, playing) with folks from other generations, we miss opportunities to learn from one another. We forfeit the chance to acquire valuable insights. And the gift of collective wisdom is lost in the void.

There is a certain splendour and richness that comes from joining generations together. Learning takes place. Stereotypes are eroded. Individual worth is increased. We discover that seniors have great value, untapped creativity, and more than a bit of humour. Children become more than just cute faces performing in annual Christmas pageants, as their questions and exuberance point us directly to God. Young adults teach us that change and innovation are essential in the church. And in the process of connecting, we discover points of similarity and relatedness. Suddenly, we don’t feel so disconnected or dissimilar.

In this issue of the Herald, we have decided to highlight age-specific ministries and weave threads of connectivity between them. We are celebrating how generations still inspire, inform, challenge and encourage one another; how those in the 55+ category (not so much “seniors” anymore, since 55 is quickly becoming the new middle age) are passing along their wisdom through story; how families in churches like Forest Grove are bringing parents and kids together with family-friendly worship services; how one pastor is being honoured for touching three generations with his leadership and wisdom.

We invite you to read closely and look for threads of connectivity – threads of faith and God’s blessing – between all generations.