The 3 seeks

After church today (No – this is not a religion related entry); KT, Richard and myself went to Piccadilly for lunch where we found this English restaurant which offers the regular Sunday roast. The food wasn’t that great but what I enjoyed most was the conversation which lasted for almost 2 hours.
We talked about almost everything ranging from economy to politics to religion to holiday to the simply courtesy of asking others if they want a drink if you are buy one for yourself. In the midst of the conversation, Richard made a statement which eventually inspired this entry. He said something to the effect that there are many first generation Christians in Malaysia nowadays after knowing that both mine and KT do not come from Christians family… and we wonder why…

I think I know why…

I think Malaysians have evolved over the last few decades in terms of the things they seek, generally speaking. The generation before me, those who are 40s and above; I believed they were born in a generation who predominantly seeks money. I used the word ‘money’, not ‘wealth’; simply because their intention was for mainly survival.

My father wanted me to find a job and start working as soon as I finished my SPM. He was in shock when I told him I wanted to study further. Get a job and start making money as soon as possible was ‘the motto’ in life for that generation. Survival is the one most important thing in life… one must be able to provide for the family.

How many of our parents are Masters degree holder?... if at all they have a undergraduate degree. No time for education… they seek money.

What about my generation? What do we seek? For those of us born in the 70s and early 80s; I believe we were born into a generation who predominantly seeks knowledge. Not that it is ‘knowledge’, and not ‘wisdom’; I think most of us are rather unwise, myself included.

Anyway, I think my generation is one who pretty much seeks knowledge. No doubt, we want money too, but we also know that we will be able to achieve more if we know more. We are aware that we need to equip ourselves before plunging ourselves into ‘hard labour’. This is why there are less rags-to-riches stories amongst us. Of course, whether knowledge can bring success is another notion altogether.

And just to digress and answer Richard, I think this is why there are quite a number of first generation Christians in my generation. Our knowledge seeking adventure most of us to… Christianity… I think.

What about the new generation now?

I think the new generation, those born in the late 80s and 90s… they are now in a generation who predominantly seeks pleasure; and probably glamour too. They truly know the meaning of ‘enjoying life’, something which the money-seeking-generation failed to appreciate.

They don’t really need to seek money, as most of them come from families where their parents have done enough money seeking thus, have enough supply. They too know knowledge is important, but they carry a heavy load of ‘life-is-short-live-it-to-the-fullest’ mentality.
Gadgets… fashionable clothing… games… looking cool… glamour… the pleasure of life they seek. Money is not a problem, just extend your hands and ask. Knowledge is everywhere, just need to click on the button and everything is readily available. With all these available, it is pleasure they seek. Perhaps this is why there is a clear emergence of ‘the new breed’ in the modern slavery market.

I think that is how Malaysians have evolved through the last few decades. One would wonder what the next generation will seek. I think I can guess by looking at the trend in other developed countries.

Can you guess it too?