For the 10 years I was blessed to be a Creative Memories Consultant, one of the worthwhile benefits of this endeavor was to hear people’s stories. It is inevitable that sifting through photographs for placement on a scrapbook page, I would be regaled with the narrative behind the photo, or the person, or the experience. These narratives explain the journey of our lives, the people and moments that have shaped who we’ve become and offer a framework for understanding both the present and the past. I was the beneficiary of seeing how genetics form our looks, how achievements lead into careers, and how vacation locations provide a glimpse into a person’s personality. Without this visual connection to the life we’ve led, it’s easy to forget our blessings, our struggles, and our current season of life.

According to the Seasons of Life previously outlined, I find myself currently at halftime, perhaps sitting in the locker room analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the first half and preparing strategically for the second half and post season. One of the present concerns during this specific period of my life, and career, is that perhaps our culture is Devaluing the Past. Touching on this issue in the post Buried Pipes, I won’t repeat those concerns, but I do hope to offer some of the reasons, specifically generational, that I believe are leading us into an unbalanced, and perhaps unhealthy, perspective of the past, present, and future.

One reason I believe that we are Devaluing the Past is related to the fact that, as Chad Veach states, “We flaunt our busyness like a merit badge, as if being forever busy is proof of our importance.” Today’s culture is so busy with activities, usually those emphasizing things that can be measured with a numerical value so that we feel productive, that we are failing to recognize our humanity and the importance of rest and Sabbath to our health and well-being. Without time to rest and Be Still, we will lack the Habit of Deep Work necessary to be reflective on where we currently are, where we’ve been, and where we are going. Culture, even Christian culture, encourages us to work all the time, asking people to sacrifice time and finances for the benefit of the organization, and devaluing the restorative time spent away from work.

In addition to our packed calendars and long to-do lists, today’s culture tends to pressure us into accepting that the “new and improved” is always better than what currently exists. I’m an advocate for innovation and technology; however, there are limits to how much we gain in the newest version. The iPhone 11 I have in my possession fulfills my needs just fine, until it is compared to the newest model. My 30-year-old washing machine cleans my clothes nicely without artificial intelligence sensing the weight of my load. A generational difference we see today is that the elders in our society had the knowledge to repair and reuse material things, whereas younger generations toss and replace at a faster rate. This happens with electronics, and sometimes even with humans. My hope is that this mindset doesn’t carry over into the workplace as younger personnel will likely not stick with an organization with loyalty and longevity the way previous generations have, and an unintended consequence is that we lose those with the knowledge and experience of how the organization arrived at where it is today.

Devaluing the Past is not a foregone conclusion if leaders will Remix wisely and creatively to blend the best of the past and present to continue moving forward into the future. Through effectively using Appreciative Inquiry to hear the stories that have shaped the present, organizations can flourish, continually learning and improving, and evolving to meet the needs of Emerging Generations.

Have you experienced leaders and organizations that successfully resist Devaluing the Past? Would you please consider sharing these stories in the comments below?

References:

Shaw, H. (2020). Sticking points: How to get 5 generations working together in the 12 places they come apart. [Kindle version]. Tyndale Momentum.

Veach, C. (2022). Worried about everything because I pray about nothing: How to live with peace and purpose rather than stress and burnout. [Kindle version]. Bethany House Publishers.