For the last year I have tried to write a “Just Some Thoughts” every day. The purpose has never been to attack people or pretend my generation was perfect. These are simply observations from an older man looking at society today. Every generation changes from the one before it. My parents’ generation was different from mine, and mine is different from younger generations today. Change itself is not the problem. What concerns me is the direction much of our culture seems to be moving.
One of the biggest changes I see is how personal responsibility has slowly weakened. Years ago, when families struggled, neighbors helped. Churches helped. Communities came together. People asked, “What can I do?” Today it often feels more like, “What should the government do?” Compassion is still talked about, but much of the responsibility has shifted away from the individual. Somewhere along the way we began losing the understanding that strong communities are built by people willing to help carry one another’s burdens.
At the same time, modern culture seems determined to change the meaning of value, identity, and self-worth. Look at advertising, movies, music, and social media. Young women are constantly told they must show more of themselves to be noticed. Modesty and self-respect are often treated as outdated ideas. Many young girls now grow up believing attention is the same thing as value.
Social media and entertainment constantly push the message that being provocative, sexually aggressive, and openly exposed is empowering. In many cases, young girls are no longer waiting to be pursued but are becoming the aggressors themselves because culture tells them their worth comes from attention, exposure, and validation. Instead of teaching dignity, modesty, and inner character, society rewards whatever gains the most views, followers, and attention. Over time this confuses both young women and young men about what healthy relationships and real respect are supposed to look like.
Young men seem just as lost. Society often tells them masculinity is dangerous while offering nothing meaningful to replace it. Many young men are searching for purpose but are being pulled toward selfishness, pleasure, entertainment, and shallow success instead of responsibility, discipline, and leadership.
Yet one of the greatest callings of a man has always been fatherhood, because true leadership, responsibility, protection, and sacrifice are first learned and displayed within the family. A strong father helps create a strong home, and strong homes become the foundation of strong communities and nations. Children learn security, discipline, respect, love, and values by watching the example of a father who is present, engaged, and willing to put his family before himself. When fathers become absent, weak, selfish, or disconnected, the family unit slowly weakens, and eventually society begins reflecting that same brokenness.
I also believe these cracks in the family are connected to the emotional struggles so many young people face today. I recently spoke with a young man who told me one of the common questions among his peers is, “Who is your therapist?” When I asked why so many young people feel overwhelmed, much of the answer centered around anxiety, depression, loneliness, hopelessness, and even suicide.
That should concern all of us.
Young people today have more technology, entertainment, comfort, and connection to the world than any generation before them, yet many seem more lost and emotionally fragile than ever. Perhaps it is because society has slowly removed many of the things that once gave people stability: faith, family, discipline, purpose, accountability, and community.
Now to be fair, this is not everyone. There are still many young men and women who have not been pulled into this way of thinking. There are young people who still value faith, hard work, family, responsibility, modesty, discipline, and truth. There are young fathers trying to lead their families well and young women who still carry dignity and self-respect. That gives me hope for the future.
These are not angry words from an old man criticizing the younger generation. They are simply observations from someone who has lived long enough to notice the cracks beginning to form in the foundations that once held society together.
Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.”
“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.” — Confucius