By Jack Krayenhoff

Let’s talk about generation gaps. I am a grandfather of ten, and my conclusion is that there are two sorts of generation gaps: little ones and big ones, or more accurately: gaps and chasms. Gaps can be close; chasms cannot.

What is a ‘gap’? A typical gap is created by the world of computers and whatever is called ‘digital’. Young people cannot imagine life without it, while oldsters like me never really feel at home there. Why “text-message” if you can talk just as well on the phone? Who needs an I-pod?

Well, the young are tolerant about this. They know I’m an old fogey, but what else can you expect of grampa? It is a generation gap all right, but it does not matter very much. We still can talk to each other and enjoy each other’s company.

But then there are those generation chasms. I will tell you about one, and you can find it in churches (not mine!). It is the worship service designed to attract the younger generation, and I warn you: such a place is not for seniors. Primarily it’s the volume, the VOLUME of the music. The other day my wife and I walked into such a service, and we got quite literally drummed out of that church. It was deafening – and that is quite literal, too. Listen to it for half an hour, and when you step out of the building you can’t hear the birds singing any more. After only one short session the deafness eventually passes off, but do it regularly, and it becomes permanent. 

But even when this music is just played and not blasted, I still have problems. The melodies – where are they? There are notes, but I cannot get the hang of them. They don’t seem singable. With the older hymns I could usually make a good guess where the melody was going and hum along the second time, but not with the modern songs. I asked the young people if they could, and they said ‘yes’. Their musical hearing must have a different setting from ours.

And another thing: I’m afraid the lyrics would not be acceptable on an English exam. Rhyme has almost disappeared, and to me rhyme is important in poetry. Oh well, there’s always blank verse – perhaps that’s what it is. But the metaphors are mixed, the ideas are confused, and the grammar is often scrambled. Even in blank verse, that does not wash, does it?

So here’s what my friends at church and I said: If the young people want to do it that way, let them. But we don’t want to cross this generation gap; in fact we are unable, because it’s not a gap, it’s a chasm. So instead, let’s get together and sing those hymns we grew up with, that are solid with great words and great music and that lift you up. Let’s sing “How Great Thou Art”, and “It Is Well With My Soul.

We do it the first Sunday of the month at 2pm in the hall of the Church of Our Lord, 626 Blanshard Street. Next time is November 2^nd. If you like good hymns – this is for you. Just walk in and join us – everybody is welcome.