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Tag Archives: Christianity
Retirement Leisure vs. Sabbath Rest
I wrote a few months ago about leisure in retirement, suggesting that one benefit of leisure is to remind us that the value of human life isn’t measured solely by the yardstick of productivity. In this post, I will compare leisure with something else that involves … Continue reading
Posted in Spirit
Tagged aging, Christianity, faith, God, leisure, older adults, retirement, Sabbath, seniors
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Ash Wednesday: You’re Gonna Die
I’m writing this a few days before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. Most Ash Wednesday services give participants the opportunity to have ashes–a symbol of mortality–rubbed on their foreheads. The presiding minister says something like “Remember … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Death
Tagged aging, Ash Wednesday, Christianity, elderly, Ernest Becker, mortality, older adults
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Come Lord Jesus
Advent is nearly over; Christmas is near. Followers of Christ anticipate celebrating his three comings–in Bethlehem, upon his eventual return to earth, and in our hearts. We who are older have lived through many Advents and welcomed many Christmas mornings. … Continue reading
The Holy Fool
I recently read Harold Fickett’s 1983 novel The Holy Fool. Haven’t heard of it? Neither had I. It addresses some interesting issues concerning midlife, though, and that captured my interest. Fickett tells the story of Ted Marsh, a Baptist pastor … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche, Spirit
Tagged aging, Christianity, faith, Harold Fickett, life review, midlife, ministry, novel, purpose
2 Comments
Albert Schweitzer on Maturity
I recently ran across a quote about ‘maturity’ attributed to Albert Schweitzer. As he neared age 70, he reportedly wrote: “The meaning of maturity which we should develop in ourselves is that we should strive always to become simpler, kinder, … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche
Tagged adulthood, aging, Christianity, elderly, older adults, Philip Larkin, purpose, virtue
5 Comments
Why Belong to a Church Where Everyone Is Younger Than Me?
Why belong a church whose members are all younger than me, most by several decades? The first time I visited Square Inch Community Church, I thought, “Not only am I older than everyone here, my kids are older than most … Continue reading
Posted in Spirit
Tagged age differences, aging, baby boomers, Christianity, church, faith, God, seniors
3 Comments
When Older Adults Think of the Dead
In a recent post about the unprocessed emotions that many older adults accumulate, I quoted a line by 93-year-old essayist Roger Angell to the effect that advanced age provides plenty of opportunities for bad news. Angell also describes his experiences with loss; in this post … Continue reading
Posted in Death, Relationships
Tagged aging, Christianity, death, elderly, faith, grief, loss, seniors
2 Comments
Faithfulness in Old Age: John M. Perkins
Yesterday I attended the talk by John M Perkins during Calvin College’s January Series. I’ve known about Perkins for most of my adult life—his leaving Mississippi as a young man after his brother was killed by a town marshal, planning … Continue reading
Posted in Spirit
Tagged aging, Calvin College, Christianity, elderly, faith, Fruits of the Spirit, January Series, older adults, race
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Spirituality for Life’s Second Half
A book that I’ve been reflecting on since reading it a few months ago is Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr. We humans think about and experience spiritual realities differently as we mature, and Rohr offers a valuable perspective … Continue reading
Posted in Psyche, Resources, Spirit
Tagged aging, Carl Jung, Christianity, Falling Upward, older adults, Richard Rohr, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity
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Interview: Pastoral Care for Older Adults
Because of their health problems and limited mobility, my parents haven’t been able to attend their church for several years. I have been impressed by how effectively the church—LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, in Grand Rapids, Michigan—has provided pastoral care … Continue reading
Posted in Resources, Spirit
Tagged aging, Christian Reformed Church, Christianity, elderly, John Steigenga, ministry, older adults, pastoral care
2 Comments
Beyond Halfway 