Reflection on Generativity
generativity noun gen·er·a·tiv·i·ty | \ ˌjen-(ə-)rə-ˈtiv-ət-ē \
: a concern for people besides self and family that usually develops during middle age especially : a need to nurture and guide younger people and contribute to the next generation —used in the psychology of Erik Erikson
Recently, we, the Sisters of St. Joseph, collectively generated words to describe our current and evolutionary view of our CSJ community? The word “generative” stood out. This quality typically is assigned to people who have passed through stages of development and maturation.
Recently as I was reading an article in the series on Integral Christianity online, I came across a section named, “Why Old People Will Save the World”. Here I need to put the article in some context and say that it addresses the role older people can play in this stage of life in the human community, not save “the Whole” of existence.
A particular piece that caught my attention came from Maggie Kuhn, the founding person of the Grey Panthers. She lists five M’s as suitable roles for elders able to function cognitively as follows:
Mentors: teaching the young
Mediators: help resolve civil, racial and intergenerational conflicts
Monitors: of public bodies, be watchdogs of City Hall/government
Mobilizers: of social change
Motivators: who urge people away from self-interest only toward public good
These possible generative roles don’t exclude younger generations from being effective in their roles nor can they replace the importance of spiritual practices/contemplation among us and pushing its boundaries for the sake of the world. Engaging in spiritual practices with partners it seems to me can be even more influential as the Spirit within knows how to lead each and all of us in this time.
I continue to feel gratitude for our CSJ charism given to all of us for the sake of the world where I find great support in the “ALL OF US” part. There may come a time when generativity can’t be expressed in roles anymore and turns increasingly into dependence on others, due to a weakening of body or other limitations. We make way for Presence—to others, to events, to reality as it appears. Putting this in terms of evolutionary spirituality, this is the phase when becoming and moving towards Wholeness in Jesus Christ is being realized. Is this process of letting go and becoming Whole through these phases not the most generative for the good of all?
-Sister Mary Vandersteen, csj