Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/52581
ᑁᑐᑒᑕᑐᑀᑄᑉᑔᑔ ᑒᑕᑀᑂᑅᑒᑙᑀᑀᑑ BY MARY AUSTIN God's call to grow in faith. At some point, we may feel like weᑀre done serv- ing in the church, done praying for oth- ers when we need so much prayer ourselves, or done giving our time and energy to others when we have so little left. Yet God summons us to a living and vital faith and involvement in the web of relationships around us. To be engaged in faithful relationships ᑁ with those around us often is easier said than done, of course. We all know older people who are delightful, engaged in the world, fun to be around and admirable in their approach to life. Given a choice, we would rather be with these kinds of people than those—of any age—who are self-absorbed, bitter, vengeful or who hang on, without thought, to the same opinions they formed two decades ago. But how do we become the former— those who are active and engaged in the world throughout the aging process? A number of years in hospice min- istry have been, for me, a long and rich lesson in how to age with grace. Count- less older people have been my teachers 22 s people of faith, no chapter of our lives is outside of God's care, and no season is separate from about how to make the latter part of life rich and full—and plenty more have taught me what not to do! After working with people near the end of life, I have come to believe that aging with grace is about the following: ᑃᑖᑖᑓᑒᑕᑐᑀᑠᑗᑡᑅᑘᑈ—turning more deeply to God and deep- 1 ening our faith. Retirement gives many of us the opportunity and time to learn more, read more and think more about who we are as people of faith. Some peo- ple change long-held beliefs when they no longer fit, and others find that old, familiar beliefs have new resonance. This is a chapter of life when health may be precarious, and the repeated loss of family members and long-time friends can make the world feel unsettled. Yet, scripture assures us that this part of life, too, belongs to God. As the author of Isaiah reassures Israel, "[you] have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am [God], even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save" (Is. 46:3b–4). The changes of older life can allow even more room for God. 2 ᑃᑖᑖᑓᑒᑕᑐᑀᑆᑅᑇᑓᑡᑅᑘᑈ— examining the past and making