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Author Archives: Bob Ritzema
Traffic Jams And My Reason For Hope
I’ve written on my other blog about Tish Harrison Warren’s book Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life. She’s interested in how we can find the sacred in the mundane events of daily life. I wrote there about … Continue reading
Posted in Spirit
Tagged aging, faith, Liturgy of the Ordinary, older adults, patience, spiritual disciplines, Tish Harrison Warren, traffic, waiting
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“To the Lighthouse” and Grief
I’m fortunate that, early in my 8th decade of life, I’ve had few people close to me die. The most significant loss has been of my father. Besides that, it’s mainly been aunts and uncles, acquaintances, and distant friends. Should … Continue reading
Playing Pool While Old
“Ya got trouble folks,” sang Professor Harold Hill, the con man in The Music Man, “Right here in River City Trouble with a capital ‘T’ And that rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for pool!” Professor Hill convinces the town … Continue reading
The Christian Communist
I’ve been writing recently about stuff–our tendency to acquire too many things, our difficulty letting go, our need to simplify as we get older. Recently I ran across a quote on possessions and spirituality by Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk. … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Spirit
Tagged Christianity, communism, faith, possessions, purpose, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton
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When Fraility Arrives
Recently, David Sedaris wrote an article about his family, in particular his elderly father, who fell on the eve of his 95th birthday party. When family arrived he fell again and was disoriented, so he was admitted to a rehab … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, Relationships
Tagged aging, caregiving, elderly, health, older adults, parents
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The Changed Lines of Generational Power
I have been reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, who is a surgeon, a staff writer for the New Yorker, and a Harvard Professor. He’s a busy guy! His book explores how medical advances have changed aging and death, not … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche, Relationships
Tagged adulthood, aging, Atul Gawande, elderly parents, older adults, seniors
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Save the World? Don’t Look at Me!
Earlier this year I read Assimilate or Go Home: Notes From a Failed Missionary on Rediscovering Faith (San Francisco: Harper One, 2016) by D.L. Mayfield. Mayfield is a young woman of faith who spent much of her early adulthood volunteering … Continue reading
Posted in caregiving, Spirit
Tagged Christianity, D.L. Mayfield, faith, justice, ministry, mission
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Cold Comfort at the Church of the Dancing Girl
I have mixed feelings about attending unfamiliar churches. On the one hand, it’s interesting to see the worship practices of various faith communities and meaningful to join with them in the majestic, never-ending stream of praise that, if the book … Continue reading
Posted in Relationships, Spirit
Tagged Christianity, church, compassion, encounters, illness, older adults, winter colds
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Another Grandparent’s Day
Three years ago I wrote a post about visiting my grandkids’ school for Grandparents Day. Last week I went to Grandparents Day again; had gone last year as well, though I didn’t post anything about it on WordPress. I have … Continue reading
Beyond Halfway 