If you value people who are older—and also your own aging—these entries will help you rejoice in the fullness of this stage of life: its gritty realities, secret joys, hidden spirituality and cherished moments—reasons to be grateful that old age is always a gift from God!
On Holy Cross Day (September 14), we honor Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We thank God for Jesus’ willingness to endure a tortured death for our sakes. Centuries later, this day might also be set aside to observe the (holy) cross-bearing of those who sacrifice their well-being for the sake of others. This day could mark the suffering of anyone whose life is filled with sorrow—who carryMORE...
(I’m not talking here about how we lose things, look all over and then find them in an embarrassingly obvious place. Instead, this entry is about steganography, the enduring art of concealing messages, objects or images inside other messages, objects or messages. More specifically, how older adults might be de facto steganographs or even steganographers!) One of the things I enjoy about beingMORE...
It’s hard to generalize what might constitute a happy birthday celebration for those of us who are older. Some seniors might want to party; others could want a more-subdued observance. Some of us don’t want (or need) any more presents/stuff. Others of us cherish gifts that consist of exceptional experiences that we share with loved ones. Still others like to turn the gift-giving equation on itsMORE...
Another birthday’s edging this way, and once again I’ve noticed the small voice inside of me that marks the scope of my life. Unlike when I was younger, I’m not looking at a faraway horizon, an unimaginable ending. (I’m not anticipating my immediate demise, either.) These thoughts are somewhere in-between—more like measuring the present against the backdrop of time writ large. My lifespan as aMORE...
Dementia may be an unspoken matter that nags at our older adult well-being. It may also be one of those conditions I don’t talk about with others, perhaps unsure how to broach the subject. I know that this condition is broader than one specific disease—e.g., Alzheimer’s—and that only a percentage of older adults might have to deal with complete cognitive loss. I am also aware that medicallyMORE...
About six years ago, I started writing (and filming) this blog. I set out with minimal plans, hoping that I could add to the fullness of years that we elders are given by God. Today seems to be a good time to pause, offering some background commentary to those of you who regularly visit my scrivenings. I hope that you’ve found some depth in the short, semi-weekly entries I plop onto your screenMORE...
I’m big on imagination, mostly for neurobiological reasons. This past Sunday another idea popped up, part of the sermon preached by our new associate pastor. (Say hello to The Rev. Julie Peterson!) She noted that God’s grand vision—holy imagination?—could counter our worrying tendencies. In her sermon, Pastor Julie admitted that, like most of us, she is a worrier. A necessary-and-problematic partMORE...
The favorite season of my retired years is still Autumn. Why’s that? Maybe because these final days of summer feel like this hemisphere’s climatological invitation to remember. (Although I’m not exactly sure how “remembering” feels alongside “autumn”, let me try to explain….) As Fall approaches, I recall how, during my working years, these would be the days when I strapped back on myMORE...
In case you missed the latest news in particle physics, the Argonne National Laboratories in Batavia, Illinois, announced last week that they had once again verified, this time more accurately, the errant behavior of a muon, a sub-atomic particle valuable in understanding the Standard Model of Physics. For the scintilla of a second it flashed into sight, the thing wobbled! According to theMORE...
When Chris and I were youngsters, our moms didn’t waste even one scrap of food. Her mom could fashion a meal out of any ingredients. My mother would often eat the leftovers in our fridge for her lunch. Now I understand—our mothers weren’t sacrificing their food choices at all. They knew then what we know now: Leftovers can be a praiseworthy part of any menu. In our home, leftover foodstuffsMORE...
BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.