Are you there God
Generation X, God, Church and Religion
Are You There God? It’s Me, Generation X is a play off the popular Generation X coming-of-age youth novel by Judy Blume, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Practically every Gen X girl read it. Now, it’s made its way through Generation Y and it’s starting on Generation Z.
Remember this from REM?
That’s me in the corner,
that’s me in the spotlight,
losing my religion.
–1991
I think we’ve all felt like that at one time or another.
Generation X Looking for God
In 2009, I came across an anonymous poem called Ode to Generation X. This was the last line.
…looking for God in those 2 a.m. cigarettes,
as we look to the stars in the sky on all those many nights.
The orange and blue horizon over Oklahoma at quitting time | Photo credit: jenx67
I’ve never smoked a cigarette, but if I did, and it just so happened to be at 2 in the morning, I’m pretty certain that alone in the smoke and the lamplight, I’d be looking toward God. I’d be inhaling on all the years that have rocketed by and exhaling on all the things I can’t change – like people I love growing up or growing old or moving away.
I’d be inhaling on my cautious hopes for tomorrow and exhaling on how I wish for my Bridgy and Sully and Juliette — and Juliette — and Juliette — a perfect world with no sorrow or pain.
And, then I’d inhale on bigger hope, because life is short and I want to seize the day. Then I’d close my eyes and exhale at the thought of my children, laughing and smiling with most of their lives still ahead of them; and Robert — and Robert, his black hair salted more and more with each passing day.
Not Cigarettes, But Prayer
And, then I’d inhale again at the thought of my own mortality, and that one day, I will leave this world, and I hope my living matters – even if only to them. And, suddenly, I’d exhale, so glad there is a God who understands that all this inhaling and exhaling at 2 a.m. is not cigarettes, but prayer.
And, then, I’d ask Him for a miracle – whatever kind He thinks I might need, because it never hurts to ask.
Blog Posts About Faith
The Crosses We Bear Are Good For Many Things
There Will Be Absolutely No Laughing in Church
Why My Christmas Cards Have Kwanzaa Stamps
The Reason Hope Will Never Disappoint Us
Out of the Blue
Yesterday, I Felt Like Quitting
I am leaving you.
Resources
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life provides ongoing research about generations and religion.
The American Religion Identification Survey (ARIS), 2008
Faith-related Tags and Categories
I have used nearly 250 labels (tags) to categorize and “file” nearly 2,300 blog posts on this site. Tags having to do with Generation X and religion include the following:
Faith
God
Church
Christianity
Jesus
Catholic
Judaism
Religion
Revelation
Vintage Religion
Virtual Sundays
Prayer
Orthodox Christianity
Interfaith
2 Responses to “Are you there God”
What an incredible discovery: this Blog about “God and Generation X”. I’m of an even older generation than the “Baby Boomers” – I’m a “War Baby” (born during WW 2), and I’ve read and enjoyed “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” too.
I hope to check this Blog of yours often, now that I’ve found it. How refreshing….how sensitive….how “on target”.
Thank you.
Loralee
P.S. I’m a storyteller. Also a musician (piano, mostly).
Today is Thursday, May 16, 2013.
Thanks, Loralee. What a nice comment. Do you blog? I love storytelling. My mom was born in 1934, so your generation is very close to my heart.