1 in 18 young adults in the US - gender fluid?

 The title above comes from J M Twenges excellent book 'Generations' The full quote ... 

"... 1 out of 18 young adults identified as something other than male or female in 2021 and 2022. With 39 million 18-26 year-olds in the U.S., about 2 million American young adults identified as trans or nonbinary, more tan the population of Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the country." (p.352)

That one fact signals the rapid and bewildering rate of change in our world. It feels like, just as we land, we are tossed back up into the air, not knowing where or when we will land again. There was the recession, Trump troubles, Brexit troubles, the pandemic, the death of the Queen, now war in Europe, escalating troubles in the middle east. 

Stephen Fry gave an alternative to the King's speech 

"I am Stephen Fry, and I am a Jew, ... The great Irish thinker and writer Conor Cruise-O'Brien once said that anti-semetism is a light sleeper. Well, it seems to have woken up of late ... whatever our opinions of what is happening (Israel v Palestine) there can be no excuse for the behaviour of some of our citizens. Since October 7th there have been 50 reported incidence of anti-semitism every single day in London alone, an increase of 1357% ... there is real fear stalking the Jewish neighbourhoods of Britain. ... So what is my message this Christmas? That we are all brothers and sisters ..."

Fry's message was met with much anger, outrage and hatred - showing just how sensitive, fractious and even dangerous our world is.

To many of us of the older generations, for good or bad it all seems a bit of a blurr. 

We may wonder, "where is it all going?" and "What next?" 

We may feel like singin the song of Wonka's Pleasure boat ride ... 

There's no earthly way of knowing

Which direction we are going

There's no knowing where we're rowing

Or which way the river's flowing

Is it raining, is it snowing?

Is a hurricane a-blowing?

Not a speck of light is showing

So the danger must be growing

Are the fires of Hell a-glowing?

Is the grisly Reaper mowing?

Yes! The danger must be growing

For the rowers keep on rowing

And they're certainly not showing

Any signs that they are slowing

However, unlike Stephen Fry, I am a Christian. If you too are a Christian, then you, like me, know where all things are heading. We can see the light and so we are not gripped by panic or fear. 

If you are not a Christian, if you don't yet know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you may well feel anxiety, an impending sense of doom in the face of so much uncertainty. Jesus is called "The Rock". Whatever you may think of Jesus, I have found Him to be the one solid rock, entirely dependable, trustworthy and in full, sovereign control, He is working in and through all things to bring them all to their inevitible end, that is His Kingdom and rule. Thankfully, as crazy as it so often seems, this world is not out of control.

None of us knows exactly what 2024 holds. There will be surpsises, good and bad. But why not make 2024 the year you settled the question 'Who really is Jesus? And what difference does he really make?"