On Getting Old

a house in need

In a recent read in Listening To Your Life by Frederick Beuchner, I came across an entry that described getting old. Sure, some people age “gracefully,” as we say. They appear to live and die with minimal frustrations or hardship. Then others experience increasing needs. Here’s how Beuchner describes it:

… it’s like living in a house that’s in increasing need of repairs. The plumbing doesn’t work right any more. There are bats in the attic. Cracked and dusty, the windows are hard to see through, and there’s lots of creaking and groaning in bad weather. The exterior could use a coat of paint. And so on.

In his August 4th entry, Beuchner describes some positive things that can still happen to aging persons. He explains things like the pleasure in not having to prove yourself, the ability to enjoy not having to jockey for position, and the returning joy of play. Those are beautiful things, but the journey to settle into the now can be filled with fear and grief.

The Spiritual Care Practitioner (AKA Chaplain) is to listen to the feelings expressed and the unmet longings and to make space for understanding the person’s unique journey. We listen. We hold space for the sacred. We don’t rush the grief. We assist in mining for hope. We acknowledge and discuss the current realities. We ask guided questions to bring forth feelings. We acknowledge. We are present.

We mirror their beauty and goodness back to them.

We uphold dignity and worth.

Who might need you to remind them of their beauty (or handsomeness) in old age? Please take action. Our elders need us.

Cheering you on,

The Spiritual Care Practitioner