In this category are Full of Years blogs that examine how time fills the lives of older persons. Time as a gift and time as a responsibility. Implicit in all entries: This is a good time to be living fully.
At whatever age—but perhaps especially in old age—mourning can comprise a substantial part of our daily thoughts. The writer of Psalm 30 offers a helpful observation: “Joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5) At this time in our lives, this can be especially comforting. As we may have experienced into these later years, though, not every morning brings joy. Our days may begin with somethingMORE...
One of my end-of-years practices is to find quiet time during the holidays for the purpose of reviewing the year(s) past, and for looking ahead to the coming year. (My future-imagining is dependent on joy- and gratitude-filled recollections of the past.) It’s one of the life rituals that I cherish highly. The lengthening string of my years stretches past easy recollection. As I siftMORE...
One of the most beautiful Scriptural images that emerges at this time of year is embodied in Galatians 4:4 – the idea that God sent Christ into the world when “the time was full.” The text cradles Christmas themes quite well, perhaps mixing together some of the sweet and tender thoughts that come at this time of year. God waiting for the right time–historical and cultural conditionsMORE...
Previously I noted that waiting can get old—tempting us to give up on being patient. There’s another side to this idea of waiting, which brings me to two other propositions: • If waiting can get old, old-age waiting can also be good. • Waiting in your later years can also be rich and full. Looking back at your life, you can see examples of instances when waiting worked out well, some large, someMORE...
Waiting is a normal part of life. In checkout lines and traffic lanes; at restaurants or service centers. Waiting for your garden to grow, your children to mature, your romances to blossom. Pregnancy is a time of waiting. Wounds heal, wine ages and soups simmer. Approaching your later years, though, the waiting takes on a different cast. It cuts deeper into your identity, lasts longer andMORE...
*The Family of Man–the classic coffee-table book whose photographs and captions inspire us to cherish the universal qualities of humanity–ends with photographs of couples from around the world. The caption that characterizes all of these forebears: “We two form a multitude.” The message is clear: Whether in marriages, friendships or kinships of any kind, bonds of love produceMORE...
From what I hear, probably the most difficult adjustment at this stage in life comes when our car keys or driver’s license are taken away. (I’m pretty sure that very few of us voluntarily relinquish this all-important element of our independent living!) The giving up of a car may arise from a near or actual crisis, and it likely precipitates others that seem far worse. I write this entryMORE...
I still like the semi-quirky verbiage of the King James Version. I especially enjoy its translation of Ecclesiastes 11:1. “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” In most commentaries, “bread” is explained as “the stuff from which bread is made”–grain of one kind or the other. “The waters” could be anything from rivers to flooded fields. In allMORE...
Today let’s explore one feature of the Christian theological landscape: The irksome questions that swarm around theodicy. How can an All-Powerful God allow evil to happen? Does God not care about evil ? Is God actually NOT all that powerful? I will NOT be parsing this doctrine here. Instead, let me suggest something a bit different: You could be the key for some folks to understand howMORE...
Perhaps I missed it—I read mostly non-fiction—but I could really use a story with a title something like This is How You Age Well. A tale of inspiring, even epic proportions. Sound familiar? If so, you may also appreciate the other side of that narrative: YOU may be a good teacher for others who want to understand how to move into their older years with grace and satisfaction. EvenMORE...
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.