In medieval days the maps often had a serpent in one of the corners. It represented the unknown. Uncharted territory. That is where we are – off the map. In the midst of the serpents.
I have three grandchildren. Here are some things that are true of thier generation.
- They do not need adults to get information.
- They can broadcast their every thought or emotion in real time.
- They have external stimuli at their fingertips 24/7
- Are socially connected at all times, but often they connect in isolation.
- Will learn more from a portable device than from a classroom.
- Will rarely handle a wristwatch, film, wall calendar, printed map or board game.
Yet they will always know what time it is, take hundreds of pictures, know where they are, keep appointments and are always at play.
The parents of today’s teenagers are the first generation that cannot say, “I know exactly what you’re going through.” Our world is changing so rapidly that life as we knew it just five years ago is radically different.
200 years ago the childhood of someone just born was going to be similar to their 50 year old grandparent. For 1000’s of years, society would simply perpetuate the customs of the past. That is no longer true.
This is not a doomsday message about the hopeless state of our society. I use this introduction to say that I feel we live in one of the most exciting AND CHALLENGING times of history to be alive.
But it also means that we need to adjust. We need to find new and innovative ways to actively engage this changing world or we are going to loose. In the book “Marching Off the Map” this statement is made.
“The Old Maps Don’t Work Anymore so we better get used to a state of nonstop innovation as an abiding feature of our time. We cannot raise children with moral grounding and intellectual discernment if we don’t.”
We are not preparing future generations well. As leaders in this new world all we seem to be saying is that “We’ve never been here before and we don’t know what to do.”
We have wonderful opportunities for Making Your Life Count. Do not be unprepared. Learn what you can and be ready to help make a difference in people’s lives.
