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older adults

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Campaigning with Spirit: Being old and spiritual

This entry is part of a series of blogs that connect political volunteering with spiritual themes. These observations come from my current volunteering for a congressional candidate. Today’s thought: Political volunteering is well-suited to older adults. Many of the other campaign volunteers I work with are older adults. That shouldn’t surprise me—those of us who are older are really passionateMORE...

(Involuntary) Simplicity

In his classic Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich (Quill Books, 2010), social scientist and visionary Duane Elgin speaks eloquently about the possibilities of choosing to live simply. Hidden within the book and implicit in his further writings, though, is the idea that lifestyle simplicity may also be involuntary for many of us. At some time in theMORE...

The greater good, Part 2

  In this three-part series, The greater good, you and I think together about how our decision-making can reflect the Christian values of empathy and community. Today we take a closer look at some possible complexities. “Seeking the greater good” can help anchor the decisions we make. An easy way to understand this ideal involves a utilitarian calculation: Determine the best outcomes for theMORE...

The greater good

In this three-part series, The greater good, you and I can think together about how our decision-making reflects the Christian values of empathy and community. The matter is complex enough to warrant more than just a few words! Today we start with the obvious: Our lives are not are own. The lectionary texts a few Sundays ago included this familiar statement by Paul: “And he (Jesus) died for allMORE...

Simple advocacy: A story for older adults

  Advocacy is a good thing. And most advocacy—speaking on behalf of others who may not have a voice—happens close to home. It’s not complicated; our personal powers can be brought to bear on matters familiar to us. The following story illustrates how that worked in my own life. For several years I was on the Cancer Patients Advisory Board for a large medical group in my locale. Our specificMORE...

A hypocrite’s hope

  When I was a young lad, I learned that hypocrisy is a bad attribute. Jesus did not like hypocrites—mostly leaders who were not practicing true religion. In high school, I was taught an added fact: Most of us are hypocrites in one way or the other, me included. Now hypocrisy came home, but with a double-standard irony: Others’ duplicity was easier to see and condemn than my own. SomeMORE...

Decluttering decluttering

  Somewhere along the line, this blog shifted out from under my grasp. I fully intended to spotlight the best-selling book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, a newer entry in the growing field of decluttering. The more I thought about the subject, the more it skittered away from easy definitions or explanations. This made me wonder if I needed to straighten up decluttering in my ownMORE...

Whom do you trust?

This blog is part of an ongoing series that answers an intriguing question: What might it mean for older adults to claim that they are still “fearfully and wonderfully made?”   Eventually someone else is going to want to know more about your body or brain. That person could be your spouse, a medical professional, a counselor or pastor, or even a dear friend. They love you and want to beMORE...

A memories jar

Most of us want to be remembered after we’ve died. Many of us might not think about the value of our leaving behind some artifacts—memories embedded in memorable items—that will help others continue their fond memories of us. (Remember that tender reminiscences can be powerful motivations for behaviors that emulate what a dearly departed friend or relative embodied.) Suzy Strunk of suburbanMORE...

Invalid invalid

The title for this entry isn’t a typo. Actually, you’re reading two different words that have a strong connection for those of us who are older. If you’re an invalid, you’re likely confined to quarters, in your own home or in a care-giving arrangement. You’re limited in the range of your movements. “Invalid” can also carry negative freight: Not only is an invalid afflicted with chronic illness orMORE...

Bob Sitze

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.

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