Boomers and Gen Zers are having a moment.

Yes, “Goodbye, Boomer” was a thing during the pandemic. There was plenty of generational eye-rolling to go around. There always has been. But in the chaos of now, I believe these two age groups need each other more than ever. Plus maybe these two generations are more alike than we all ever thought.

This is a list of complaints from Gen Zers. I found it on a Reddit forum. These are their top complaints…from Gen Zers. When you are reading this list don’t be confused believing this list is from Boomers. It’s not but it sure could be.  

• You don’t need an Apple watch!
• Sometimes the music is too loud.
• Fridges don’t need Spotify.
• My back hurts.
• Every business should accept cash as a form of payment.
• Cars have too many screens and too few buttons and knobs.
• You don’t need a phone in grade school.
• I can’t stand QR menus.
• It’s much more convenient to write stuff down on paper instead of a note app. (Reddit)

Did I grab your attention about this real possibility?

We all need intergenerational relationships, now more than ever. Because it is crazy out here.

We need each other. We need to learn from each other. We all have so much wisdom to share with each other to make this world a bit more manageable.

This wisdom is especially for you grandparents, you Boomers, you older folks (if you think you are older folks). Be intentional about talking more to these younger generations.

First of all, the young people have something to teach you too. You know that. Humble yourself and ask. Be vulnerable. Be curious. Complain together about hating QR menus.

You don’t have to have all the answers. In fact, your willingness to not have all the answers may be one of the greatest gifts you can give.

Because here’s what young people want from you.

They don’t necessarily want to be told the answers about faith and their doubts. They want to discover their own answers. They want their uncertainty, doubt and questions welcomed.

By the way, God is not fragile. And neither is your faith.

They don’t trust institutions, including the Church. But they want people to be there for them. They trust relationships the most in this untrustworthy world.

They want to hear the “along the way” experiences of what faith looks like. Tell them about the times when it felt like God had abandoned you—and how time eventually showed you that God was closer than you realized. Let them hear you say, “At 21 I was such a screw up, but then I learned this and this and this, and now you see this wise old person.” Let them see the imperfect progress. Tell them how you did it. You did it. You are living proof of this life of faith.

They need to hear, “I’ve lived long enough to know this moment isn’t the whole story.” Especially when it comes to headline anxiety.

You lived through the government corruption of Watergate. That shook you. Then you have lived through several more corruptions of government so this current one disturbs you but you’ve got history to put it in perspective. Young people don’t and just see this one.

You lived through gas shortages. Not just expensive gas but times when there was no gas to purchase. You’ve lived through things that once felt like the end of the world.

This doesn’t mean today’s problems aren’t serious. It means you have something young people desperately need—-perspective.

They want to hear stories and see what marriage looks like. So few have seen a marriage work. Can a marriage work? You have stories to tell here.

They want a listening ear without judgment. That doesn’t mean, “Go ahead and sin and do whatever you want.” It means, you won’t freak out.

They probably already know you have a moral code that is different from theirs. They likely have already prejudged your moral code as wrong while simultaneously wondering what is true about their own developing moral code.

You don’t need to lead these conversations with your moral code. What if you simply keep the conversation open? They already know what you believe. What they need to know is that your love for them is not dependent on what they believe.

There is another reason why you have a unique opportunity here. You don’t have a financial interest in them. Everyone has a financial interest in our young people. Even the youth pastor (says the youth pastor).

This makes you rare. Take advantage of that.

They are not a project. Not a mentee. Not “the next generation.”

You can tell them to put their phone away and talk a little while.

Let the relationship become ordinary because that’s where trust grows.

And perhaps that is the opportunity in this strange moment when Boomers and Gen Z are discovering that they actually have a lot in common. You both think Spotify on refrigerators is ridiculous. That’s a start.

But it could become something much more important.

You have perspective they haven’t had time to accumulate. They have perspectives you haven’t had time to encounter.

You have stories. They have questions.

You have lived through things they are afraid might happen. They are living through things you never imagined would happen.

Somewhere in the middle of all of that is a relationship neither of you could have built alone. So don’t be afraid of their questions. Don’t be afraid of your vulnerability.

God is not fragile, and neither is your faith. You don’t have to protect God from these life questions. You don’t have to protect your faith from their doubts. You don’t have to have the perfect answer.

You just have to be willing to stay in the conversation. Now more than ever, says this veteran Boomer youth pastor, you are wanted in the conversation.