Fertile ground

At the root of intergenerational collaboration is relationship. When we engage people of different generations to build relationship—not as a project or a target but to be in genuine connection—we are able to discover commonalities, realize each other’s strengths and be open to how the Holy Spirit might move through us in new and powerful ways.

But intergenerational diversity can be one of the most difficult dimensions of diversity to navigate. What would happen if we were to encounter every person of a different generation with curiosity and wonder? What if we approached intergenerational interactions by expecting that each person brings unique gifts to the table?

At the root of collaborative intergenerational innovation is mutual relationship, where people of different generations are treated as equal and exchange spiritual gifts toward our common purpose. Our innovation is sparked and informed by our diverse lived experiences and life perspectives, which, when collaboratively engaged, create fertile ground for all that the Holy Spirit is doing through us.

This message is an excerpt from “Relationship: The root of intergenerational collaboration” by Tiffany C. Chaney in the May 2021 issue of Gather magazine.

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