photo by pixiegenne via flickr
...As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand.
-From Jackson and Richie's We Are the World
When Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and John Hughes died earlier this year, much of the conversation turned to Generation X, my generation, which by broadest definition spans the birth years of 1961 to 1981. We came of age with the Breakfast Club, Billie Jean and Jill Monroe, and thus, the losses were characterized as milemarkers that reached beyond bad days.
In summary, 2009 marked the end of Generation X's youth, the perpetuality of which did not serve Gen X well, but rather, the generations who came before us. Alas, we rounded a corner, and the world granted us permission to call ourselves what only they denied we were: grown ups.
I took a sharp right just a little earlier. In November 2008, my brother Billy, an Xer born in 1962, was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Then, this past June, my brother-in-law, Greg, suffered a terrible stroke. I was so upset for him and my sister and their children, I could hardly talk about it with anyone. I cried a lot by myself. I prayed. I worried. And, now, a day doesn't go by that I don't think about the one kidney Billy has left, or what life might hold for my sister and brother-in-law who are just 10 and 11 years older than me.
Then, today, I learned about my high school classmate, M., who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. I've been planning a trip to see her. A bunch of my classmates and I were going to meet up at her place the first weekend in November for Caney Girls Weekend. I could not wait to be back in the company of those rural Kansas girls, and now, comes this heartbreaking news.
It is one thing to experience the death of a childhood icon and quite another to watch fellow members of my generation get cancer in their 40s as was the case for my brother and now, M. So, here is part of what I'm processing within the context of 2009 and Generation X.
- Boomers have long held fast to their youth.
- In doing so, they frequently reminded Xers how young and inexperienced they were - even though Boomers accepted leadership roles in their 30s that Xers nearing 50 still haven't had an opportunity to accept.
- After awhile, I think Xers became embittered by the elusion of youth - a veil concocted to meliorate the purgatory of junior executive-dome.
- So, the corner office eluded Generation X.
- We learned to live with it, and really, family was always the focus anyway, and work-life balance ascended to the Gen X ideal.
- The oldest Gen Xers turn 50 in 2011, and yet, Generation X, as a whole, still does not dominate workplace leadership.
- Meanwhile, we're entering mid-life with all the looming dread of its various associated crises. Icons are dying and contemporaries are getting poor bills of health.
What does this juxtaposition mean for Generation X?
The other day, my brother sent me a birthday card. Inside was a quote from Ray Lessin, to which my brother added an "X" at the end:
"You lack nothing that His grace can't give you! He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation."
I just loved that. We don't need anyone's permission to make a difference in the world. God has put each of us here with a difference in mind. What is it for you?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a129872d-97c5-4b17-8ca0-8d028e01c2cd)
12 comments:
what a thoughtful and interesting post. the difference for me? As a youth worker working for the church it is my dream to see the young people I work with making their own faith choices and making positive lifestyle choices which go beyond themselves, whether that's for the environment, justice or whatever...
Once again thank you. Your words are so lovely. Just what I needed today. I'll be praying for your family.
hello dear Jen - I am at once inspired and overwhelmed at the task that still lies ahead ... I strive to be glass half full when a world around me offers so much to fret about ... teh difference we make is little by little, pne child at a time. Right now we take milk and cheese to kindy to share as some babes are showing up without breakfast ... just not good enough reg ... many hugs to the girl I know makes a big difference to loads of lives - that's you matey le xox
It's really tempting to define myself in terms of Genx and I certainly feel the things you speak of. In keeping with your closing, when demographics threaten to define and limit me, I keep reminding myself that God, not demographics, is in control. I really appreciate your writing because it helps me recognize when "it's a God thing."
Remember Billy from St. Elmo's Fire. He was a grad from an Ivy League School and the only job he could get after graduation was in a gas station. Boomers have been consistent in dummying down all generations. In the end boomers are left with decisions that have led to a financial crisis and creating a class of wealthy heart surgeons. xoxo
This article is so sweet.
Yea when you think about it, our youth served older generations to gain money, in a sense. Some got rich, having us beeing the 1st generation where youth would transform into a good and jucy market.
So they kinda helped us to think youth was so cool, and make it last the more you can, so we can gain even more (a bit simplistic explanation, but makes sense to me).
So there we comin' from an age where adulthood was not a so shiny thing to become.
On the top of that you take our models who started to become crazy, irresponsible, divorced.. gay ..
Well, not too encouraging for us to run after leadership places in the whole.
And yet, when some tried, this would be pretty hard to lead in a "boomers-ruled world".
Helping Xers to get in leadership roles is a critical responsibily now for boomers.
They need to understand what comes with us, and the X background. we aint like them,. Not sure they do, in a whole.
I do not see either in my work or in church, that this is done smoothly..
Jen you write with such Grace...that quote is amazing!
I have to tell you I rented fame this weekend-b/c of a previous post you wrote and I mentioned never seeing it completely...
I can see what you were mulling over to make you upset. A very profound post and I hope that M will enjoy the visit from her old friends.
I love, love, love that quote. Your brother sent that? Impressive. My brother doesn't send cards, emails, etc. at all!
I became a grown up when I became a dad. Just like that, I wasn't a kid anymore. I was daddy.
So sorry about your friend and relatives. I wish them the best.
And Happy Birthday!
Jen, I am the last person to comment on religion or faith, but I want to commend you for writing about a topic with such candor and grace. When others use religion and faith to divide us, you use it to make us think. Thanks.
And I loved the Fisher-Price Little People. During my wayward youth, I had a friend who wore one on a string around her neck. Yes, I hung out with weirdos. It's part of my charm.
Great post, Jen. I am impressed at your graceful writing style~ Dad would be so proud. What I like best is when you describe something in such exquisite detail. Without a doubt, you are a wordsmith!
By the way, I loved the photo at the top of this story. I LOVED THOSE CHARACHTERS!!! They were very creative and kids loved them.
I loved that part you wrote about "...the purgatory of Jr. Executive-dome". That is so great!
Also "...and work life balance acended to the GenX ideal...".
Bang! I love that!
Post a Comment
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas.