Voices of a Future Generation

This has been on my mind for some time now. You know how we see an outrageous reality TV show or witness kids do things with no sense of consequence, and we joke something like: "Future of America right there! Sigh..." Let's face it: kids and this younger generation are just so arrogant, ignorant and naive. Or are they?

When I was in high school, our group of friends were of the few who were searching for something bigger than ourselves. Our beliefs, not only in God, but in general society, culture, morals, and ethics were at a premium for our age. I don't mean to place us above anyone else; far from it, and there were many other kids around who also wanted to make something of themselves and this life. But I'm saying on a large, national scale, I didn't notice this way of thinking as being a dominate force in everyday life in kids our age. I can't say the same thing now, in 2010.

I've noticed that in five short years, this line of thought has become the norm. Youth nowadays are searching for something to hold on to. Wanting to be felt and known in this world.

It is fair to say that there are still many who are naive, as much as I don't want to admit it. But the same can be said about anyone of any age, to one extent or another. However, there are more and more kids that are doing something, you know? Since I've been in out of high school, I've met a lot of young kids from high school or just starting college who are on a different level, pushing themselves to be the change they wish to see in the world (as originally said by Gandhi).

And even if some are a little naive, is this such a bad thing? We, adults, supposedly know better because we've experienced more or are more mature, but this sometimes holds us back. We want to say we know what will happen if we do this or that, so we're not willing to try something if we have the slightest feeling it's not going to work. But these young kids are willing to try anything, and that in itself is a good place to be. Blake Mycoskie, of TOMS Shoes, said it best:

... I didn't have any experience in shoes... Sometimes not having experience is the greatest thing in the world. If you have experience, you've already heard that you can't do it this way, and you can't do it that way, but with no experience you just do it your way.

(emphasis by me)

I strongly believe that if we're to move forward with our ideas, ministry, as a nation, as a world, the generations that follow us are the ones we need to listen to.

Do you guys have any thoughts on this matter? Agree? Disagree? I'd love to talk.