Time for a rant here - there is a commercial on television that I see constantly that really irritates me. The tag line - an older male “life coach” helps young people keep from becoming their parents by lampooning various things we’ve all seen our parents do - things that many of us older people have done - still do. I am assuming this is done - tongue in cheek - as an older parent - it completely rubs me the wrong way. Because of their ads - I would never buy their product - then again - I am not their target audience. My reason - I never find any fun - pleasure - whenever anyone is made the point of ridicule. Over the past years we have made it a point to avoid pointing fingers at racial - ethnic - gender - specific peoples. So when did the older generation become an open target? Years ago a study was done with high school students asking them who their heroes were. A small percent named celebrities - sports figures - actors - and such. The majority - however - named their parents - mom - dad - their heroes - wishing to follow in their footsteps - achieving what they had accomplished - rising above numerous barriers - to achieve better education - occupations - lives for their families. Most of us grew up with an appreciation of our own parents' struggles in an attempt to provide us with better lives - in turn - the majority of us have done likewise. The feeling that parents have experienced when they were able to open new doors for their children - providing them opportunities that were not available to them as children is the fuel that drove the majority to excel and achieve all that they did.
When Jesus walked among the people He tried to help people understand that in God's eyes - all were His children - all were equal in His eyes. What we have gained on one hand is unfortunately lost on the other - often in the attempt to make financial gains - at the expense of others. What value is it for one to gain the wealth of the world - when they too quickly discard the value - wealth - of the very people around them? As God loving people - all of us are called to avoid discrimination - to treat all others - no matter the - age - race - gender - ethnicity - equally. With God in ones heart - this is an easy choice - a choice that we are called to make every day.
Deacon Dale
