Good dreams

Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions (Joel 2:28)
Why is it dreams for old men and visions for young, I wonder. Is it as simple as the direction we look? The young look ahead to a life of promise, while the old look back to a life of memories. Or maybe the oldies are falling quietly asleep in an armchair while the youth are out there getting things done? One of the troubles that has been forgotten before all this started was the age divide. In many developed countries, property wealth resides with the elderly and the young have few hopes of ever owning a home. The older generation have savings while the young have debts. The potterers have a garden to potter in, while the runners must share space in a local park with dog walkers.
This virus that attacks those nearer the end of life has made us forget all that. We are all ready and willing to make huge sacrifices to our lives largely as a defence of our more senior citizens.  These are the same elderly who, a moment ago, we resented as the lucky ones who had climbed up to financial security and then pulled the ladder up after them. So what lies ahead for us all? Well, you may have noticed that I've missed out the third group: 'your sons and daughters will prophesy' writes Joel. Your children will speak God's words directly into your lives both about now and about the future. So what might we hope they will say to our nations? Maybe they will they speak of a time when the dreams of the old and the vision of the young come together. Maybe they will tell of nations marked by a generosity between generations that doesn't wait for death and isn't limited to family ties; where the wealth of all is spread more evenly not by taxation but by choice. So can anything be done now to address the generational divide in the nations' wealth? I suspect it will start with something little or with someone brave. I do know how it can happen but as one generation has done so much to save another then it is our duty to find a way to pay them back.

The Weymouth line on a frosty day

Location: United Kingdom

Comments

  1. WILLIE...! =(^..^)=10 May 2020 at 08:47

    When l read the first paragraph..I thought..'George, you must get out more'..
    But! You put things in perspective further on..
    There will always be a divide, like North and South, between tho old and young..
    But! Then..how old do we class as old, there is the legal age for being old, there
    are people in there 70~80~90's out running marathons..and living longer..and
    looking at some of the so called 'youngsters' to~day..some won't see 20...! :(.

    I won't mention the virus..We ALL know it's there, we can fight and defeat it, if
    we take care, stay safe, and..and..a little prayer could help..!
    so..
    "Learn from yesterday, live for to~day, hope for tomorrow".

    ReplyDelete

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