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Spiritual vitality after 70. November 19, 2011 – Virginia Theological Seminary. II Corinthians 4: 7-9, 16-17. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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SPIRITUAL VITALITY AFTER 70November 19, 2011 – Virginia Theological Seminary
II Corinthians 4: 7-9, 16-17
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be
made clear that this extraordinary power belongs
to God and does not come from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. . .
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal wealth of glory beyond
all comparison.
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot
Richard Rohr
YOUNG … OLDER … OLD OLD
There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics
The Elderly Sub-Populations
Pew Research Center – November 7, 2011
Margaret Cruikshank
Aging in contemporary America is so complex and multidimensional
that studying it is worthwhile, even necessary, for those who wish to
do it consciously and without fear.Source
Margaret Cruikshank, Learning to Be Old: Gender, Culture, and Aging (2003), ix
Simone de BeauvoirThere is one form of
experience that belongs only to those who are old – that of
old age itself. The young have only
vague and erroneous notions of it.
SourceSimone de Beauvoir, The Coming of Age,
trans by Patrick O'Brian (1996), 381.
Aging as a Spiritual Practice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ORvUZou0Ak
byLewis Richmond
Spiritual Well-BeingAffirmation of life; the ability to say “yes” to life in spite of negative circumstances. By being a part of a community of faith, people grow to accept the past, live into
the present and seek the hope of fulfillment in the future.
Source
Thorson, J. A., ed. Perspectives on Spiritual Well-Being and Aging. Charles C. Thomas Publishers LTD, 2000, xiii.
Theorists Who Shaped Erikson
Erik Erikson
Charles DarwinSigmu
nd FreudAnn
a FreudHeinz HartmannMaria
Montessori Margar
et Mead
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
Gerotranscendence Increased feeling of affinity with past
generations, & decreased interest in superfluous social interaction
Feeling of cosmic awareness, & redefinition of time, space, life and death.
Individual becomes less self-occupied & more selective in choice of social and other activities.
Individual might experience decrease in interest in material things. Solitude becomes more attractive
Source: In Thomas, Bill. Post on Changing Aging Blogstream, Feb. 3, 2011. http://changingaging.org/blog/2011/02/03/gerotranscendence/
Deepening Spirituality All Ages
1. Finding worth in one’s being, not through having or doing
2. Accepting one’s life journey and faith story
3. Confronting losses and accepting gains4. Experiencing a new (or renewed)
relationship with God5. Serving the needs of others
Source: Gentzler, R. H. and Clingan, D. F. God’s Challenge to the Church and Synagogue. Discipleship Resources, 2003.
COME BACK AT 1pm!
Zones of EmotionVedantam, S. “Older Americans May be Happier than Younger Ones.” In The Washington Post, July 14, 2008, p.
A04.
Principles of Parish Ministry for Maturing Adults
Part of parish plan Pay attention to
three dimensions of growth: spiritual, physical, & psychological
Employ styles of teaching unique to people being served
… Principles for Parish Ministry
Assume God is calling each person to a profound personal vocation
Shift focus of ministry to shared activities & shared growth in faith and life
Welcome elders into mainstream
… Principles for Parish Ministry Embrace a goal of spiritual transformation Offer programming that rises out of the real
situation in which elders live Focus on both interior and exterior growth Be Christ-centered Think: Developmental, ongoing, & lifelong Honor diversity of age, stage, personality,
ethnicity, & spiritualitySource: Johnson, R. P. Parish Ministry for Maturing Adults: Principles, Plans and Bold Proposals. Twenty-Third Publications, 2007, 15-16.
Essential Programming Components
Responsibility toward community, family, and church
Thorough contemplation of death and eternity
“unless we can come to terms with
our ultimate destination, we
really won’t have the wisdom to
make those right decisions about the
journey here”
… Essential Components Provide time for solitude &
meditation Recognize being alone ≠ being
lonely Feel loss deeply Recognize movement toward
giftedness in maturity Making and keeping friendsSource: Davis, C. B. “Spirituality and Aging,” in Perspectives on Spiritual Well-Being and Aging, J.A. Thorson, ed. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 2000, p. 45-53.