Category

Relationships

This category brings together any blogs that comment on the relationships that exist among older adults, as well as their relationships with people in younger age groups.  Some of these relationships are full, rich and rewarding, while others need effort and prayer. In all cases, relationships keep older adults healthy, spiritually mature and purposed.

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January 10, 2022

Holding up Moses’ arms today

By Bob Sitze
In Arcania, Current Events, Personal Power, Relationships, Time
January 10, 2022
3 Min Read
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10January

It’s that time of year when leaders might need some help. Perhaps those of us who are full of years might be the ones to *hold up our Moses’ arms! Post-holiday realities are galumphing back into leaders’ priorities: Future planning, fiscal years wrapping up, performance reviews, annual meeting reports. Some leaders might be nearly overwhelmed by start-of-year tasks, roles or responsibilities; theMORE...

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January 7, 2022

Twitter trees?

By Bob Sitze
In Arcania, Lifework, Personal Power, Relationships
January 7, 2022
2 Min Read
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07January

(This entry is part of an ongoing collection of blogs that examine the future of congregations post-COVID19. Each entry forms itself around a question looking for clarity or answers.) Two cedar trees in my front yard regularly host a large-group gab session for sparrows, also protecting them from predators. The birds seem to derive pleasure from their flitting and chirping. They return to theseMORE...

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December 10, 2021

Repurposed churches?

By Bob Sitze
In Current Events, Lifework, Relationships, Soul Searchings, Time
December 10, 2021
2 Min Read
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10December

(This entry is part of an ongoing collection of blogs that examine the future of congregations post-COVID19. Each entry forms itself around a question looking for clarity or even answers.) It may be so obvious that you might miss it: Post-COVID, our congregations will retain their place as centers for social intelligence. You may think about that fact in different terms, but what takes place inMORE...

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December 2, 2021

Not welcome?

By Bob Sitze
In Current Events, Relationships, Soul Searchings
December 2, 2021
2 Min Read
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02December

(This entry is part of an ongoing collection of blogs that examine the future of congregations post-COVID19. Each entry forms itself around a question looking for clarity or even answers.) In post-COVID congregations, some questions will remain for the people of God to wrestle with. One seems particularly important for the future of the Church: Who’s welcome and who isn’t? In most places, “AllMORE...

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October 26, 2021

Lost souls

By Bob Sitze
In Relationships, Soul Searchings, Time
October 26, 2021
2 Min Read
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26October

One continuing lament about growing older: The lost souls that continue in my memory without continuing in my current relationships. To be clear, these are not people I have consigned to perdition on account of their persistent perfidies. Instead, they are all the saints with whom I’m no longer in touch. Their state of well-being is unknown to me, their contact information lapsed or lost. TheMORE...

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October 21, 2021

In praise of letter-writing

By Bob Sitze
In Arcania, Lifestyle, Personal Power, Relationships
October 21, 2021
2 Min Read
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21October

Years ago I wrote about *pen-pal clubs as a hopeful feature of older adult lifestyles. Today I want to encourage you again to consider letter-writing as a powerful antidote to diminished social contact—a satisfying ministry that you can undertake right now! As you might guess, I like corresponding with others–mostly via e-mail, but sometimes printed or handwritten notes. (That kind ofMORE...

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September 23, 2021

“Blest be the tie that binds”

By Bob Sitze
In Relationships, Soul Searchings, Words
September 23, 2021
3 Min Read
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23September

The singing of this beloved hymn is often accompanied with tears. Its background story tells why: John Fawcett, a rural pastor in 18th century England, realized the mutual love between his congregation, his wife and himself. Instead of leaving for a better-paying position in London, he changed his mind at the last minute—after his farewell sermon—and chose to stay with this small, strugglingMORE...

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September 13, 2021

No joke

By Bob Sitze
In Arcania, Current Events, Death/Dying, Relationships, Soul Searchings, Words
September 13, 2021
2 Min Read
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13September

I don’t tell lawyer jokes. And I try to indicate my displeasure—not laughing—when someone tells one. Today’s thoughts spin out my reasoning. My emotions, too. A few days ago, a dear member of our congregation—we’ll call him Scott—died suddenly. He was a lawyer, highly regarded and beloved by clients and colleagues. He was born and raised around here, so his mourners have long histories that theyMORE...

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August 24, 2021

Dealing with anger hopefully

By Bob Sitze
In Current Events, Lifestyle, Personal Power, Relationships, Time
August 24, 2021
3 Min Read
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24August

It’s difficult to treat addictions of any kind, and anger addiction adds its own layers of complexity. The complications are easy to see: Anger is both an individual and group phenomenon. A subculture of anger-merchants has worked for decades to insert anger into the way this society functions. Fuel for continuing anger is easily accessible, so those addicted to anger may not seek help. PoliticsMORE...

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August 19, 2021

Anger addiction

By Bob Sitze
In Current Events, Lifestyle, Personal Power, Relationships, Soul Searchings
August 19, 2021
2 Min Read
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19August

Let me be blunt. “Anger addiction” is not a metaphor or a loosely applied descriptor. People who are easily and continually angry exhibit the same behaviors as those addicted to any substances or habits that are ultimately harmful to them and those around them. Those who engage in anger as a preferred or constant practice are addicts. The evidence is clear: Whole segments of our population are inMORE...

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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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