While discussing with a group of members of the Salesian family about the notion of spiritual accompaniment of young people, it came across to me that the basic starting premise of our effort is that there is something not right with young people today!! For me that is a dangerous launching pad. We (the grown ups of today) have a 'problem' with the young of today - may not be a life and death problem but let's say, a difficulty. I realized that our preceding generation had the same complain about us!! Nothing very different.
The starting point of all our interactions with the young should be meeting them where they are - not where they 'should' be! The way forward is not to become like them or make them like us. We are the digital immigrants and no matter how hard we try we will never become digital natives. Nor is any attempt to make the natives feel like immigrants of any real benefit. The best way forward is to be with ourselves today. Most of us do not know how to be ourselves, leave alone how to be be with God! In being happy and contended with ourselves and in our openness (non-judgemental attitude) to be with them lies the key to a harmonious future, both for us individuals and for our collective society.
The starting point of all our interactions with the young should be meeting them where they are - not where they 'should' be! The way forward is not to become like them or make them like us. We are the digital immigrants and no matter how hard we try we will never become digital natives. Nor is any attempt to make the natives feel like immigrants of any real benefit. The best way forward is to be with ourselves today. Most of us do not know how to be ourselves, leave alone how to be be with God! In being happy and contended with ourselves and in our openness (non-judgemental attitude) to be with them lies the key to a harmonious future, both for us individuals and for our collective society.
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