Turning the Clock Back

Yes, I can turn our grandmother clock back. So, why can't we turn our calendar back? This is a conundrum for we seniors who at times more easily remember the past than the present. Some days I would like to go back 40, 50 years but on other days I never give it a thought.

In the news today I saw a report announcing the fact that there are four million more women graduating from college than men and its growing. The same in the workplace. One reason given for this was the lack of men. Or available men I suppose they meant.

Now, you and I can think of a few reasons (or excuses) for this disparity which we won't go into at this point. However, scientists I'm sure have some good arguments for this. Now, let me go back about 50+ years. I was a youthful associate pastor in a rather large urban church. Two episodes pop up into my reflective thinking.

One involved a study I made trying to locate the lost youth during a previous ten-year span. I located most of them which eased some parental concerns as it troubled me considerably how far astray some had wandered. Another image that emerged was a newly unwed mother who with her governmental stipend supported that unemployed (by choice) father of her child. As I visited the threesome, I lacked adequate (or appropriate) words to motivate that lazy freeloader to get a job.

That was over fifty years ago. As I reflect on then and now scenarios, I see some similarities. And some big differences. Back then, promiscuity was less prevalent, perhaps, but it existed without the pressures of today's culture with its increasing tolerance. Then there was less societal acceptance but perhaps the beginning stages of a more pronounced deviation from marital fidelity and certain disparities of male-female roles and relationships.

Would I want to go back to those days? No. Would I prefer to have more men in college and the workplace and more women as happily married homemakers? Yes. But since it is impossible to go back, I'm not only fifty years older but shouldn't I be luxuriating in retirement bliss even with a not too serious stubborn short-term memory?

I am concerned about women burdened with domestic and academic and vocational demands while men are dropping out. I am continually amazed by women who dominate vocational and domestic aspects of our society while handling both roles surprisingly well. I am dismayed when both either sex is discriminated against and I would like to see far fewer unwed mothers and many more responsible fathers.

Just as I can't go back, I can't go ahead, either. But I would like to see into the future that more men are in college and more women are happily wed. Maybe it is not all bad that we can't see what lies ahead although it still lingers in our hopes and dreams. Or at least it should.