Do you know the names of generations in Western societies? I had to look this up:

• People born from 1883 to 1900 are the “Lost Generation.” They lived through World War 1.
• People born from 1901 to 1927 are the “Greatest or G.I. Generation.” They lived through World War 2.
• People born from 1928 to 1945 the “Silent Generation.”
• People born from 1946 to 1964 are “Baby Boomers.”
• People born from 1965 to 1980 are “Generation X.”
• People born from 1981 to 1996 are “Generation Y or Millennials.”
• People born from 1997 to 2912 are “Generation Z or Zoomers.”
• People born after that are “Generation Alpha.”

If the subject interests you, information is available:

• READ: Social Generation: Wikipedia

I don’t like the anger and resentment between generations, especially aimed at Boomers. It seems to me that the worst examples from each generation are identified, and then we decide, “They are all like that.” That kind of generalizing prejudice is not far from racism, when it blames people for their birth circumstances.

We need each other, and we need more kindness.

I am a boomer, and I recently had a conversation with a Millennial who has Generation Alpha children. It was a friendly conversation.

What I noticed was the stress and worry. We talked about many things, but then we got to the subject of jobs and careers. I had my stories, and then he told me about his stress. He trained for a career, and his wife trained for hers. They both went to good schools, and they worked hard in their fields, and over time, both careers crashed. Their employers canceled their operations, and let the employees go.

His wife started a small business, and she is a moderate success. He found a new job, and then he quit and moved to something he liked better. Recently, his supervisor talked to him about a small project, that was not a big success. It didn’t sound like anything serious, but he was starting to worry.

I understand. He has no reason to feel confident, in his generation. Our culture has changed from when I was his age, and he does not feel secure. He is really worried about his “Alpha” children, and their future in the world. He doesn’t see how they can prosper.

He told me he doesn’t have much confidence in careers, anymore.

In that conversation, I got a picture of the Millennial experience. Now I’m starting to worry for them.

I believe there is an answer to every one of our worries. So, is there any wisdom, for the worries of our younger generations?

Writing as a Christian, I know two opposite things, and we need both:

• Don’t have a career.
• Have a career.

This may seem strange, but both of those directions are in the Bible.

1) No Career: Christians have clear instructions, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The instructions continue, “For all that is in the world; the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2: 15 to 17)

Clearly, a career and status in society are not the gods that we should worship. Career and job disappointments should not ruin our happiness.

2) A Career: interestingly, a carpenter named Joshua changed the history of the world. The Greek form of that name is Jesus. He was from a small town, and the important people in his country laughed at him and finally had him killed. Influential people did not take Jesus seriously.

This career failure worked for only a few years, and he changed the history of the world, more than any other person in history.

We know that Jesus started something new, and He built his “kingdom” with followers that He selected carefully. Every disciple, or close follower, of Jesus had a career.

Some of the most successful followers were professional, career fishermen. We read stories about them working a night shift, in a small boat, on a lake. At least one other was a tax collector, probably a contractor, who worked for the government.

Jesus told his recruits, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” (John 15: 16)

I think the point for us all is, the career is me, and you. Peter, the man who Roman Catholics believe is their first Pope, was a career fisherman. He worked that night shift, in a small boat, on a lake. Later, the tools that shaped and formed him were put aside, and he took his talents and skills to something new.

I believe we all need to see jobs and careers in that way. Diligent people always have something new to do. The future, with God, is much larger than the past. There is a spiritual truth about jobs and careers.

I plan to tell my friend that, the next time we talk.

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (Colossians 3: 22 to 24)