The legendary late great pitcher Satchel Paige is credited with asking, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” In your own mind, what age are you? Be honest. If you’re like me, your answer depends on the time of day and how you’re feeling at that particular moment! Our traditional idea of aging is …
This week I had the privilege to celebrate the life of a good friend, Cornelia Frank. She was 101 years old and was one of the first persons I met when I moved to Winchester 20 years ago. It is difficult moving into a small town and getting acquainted after you have retired. Everyone has their circle of friends. However, the first Sunday I attended Winchester First United Methodist Church, Cornelia came up to me, introduced herself, and invited me to deliver Meals on Wheels with her. I was her co-pilot delivering some 10 meals together each week.
Later life is a time of reassessment and reflection. What sense do we make of the lives we have lived? How do we come to terms with illness and death? What do we want to give to others as we grow older?
“The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon…In old age they still produce fruit, they are always green and full of sap” (Psalm 92:12,14). Some studies indicate that ageism is decreasing in our society and we’re headed toward a more inclusive view of aging. They also indicate that age stigma is getting reduced, citing …
The church is in the hands of its elders. While the popular perception is that the aged are needy and infirm, Rick Gentzler affirms that the majority of older adults have plenty to give. The church needs to tap into their wisdom, energy, experience, and talents.
By Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., director, ENCORE Ministry Recently, when I was consulting with a local church in my role as director of ENCORE Ministry, I was approached by an older woman with a big smile on her face. She said that she was looking forward to my visit with leaders of the older adult ministry in her church. …
Alzheimer’s or another other form of dementia every 77 seconds. Today, someone is diagnosed every 66 seconds.
And the number is escalating. In 2050, it will be one person every 33 seconds.
By Ed Zinkiewicz Does that title ring any bells for you? Do you remember Kansas? And Oz? Dorothy would truly be amazed. Consider what she would find coming back from Oz today: Hundreds of thousands of centenarians worldwide are alive today and the population in general is living longer. People are retiring later and staying active for a longer time …
By Chaplain David Brinker Rev. Dr. Frederick Schmidt is the Rueben P. Job Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He has shared insightful principles on the difference between aging and growing older in an online spiritual journal called “Patheos.” He writes: Sometime ago, a friend who had just celebrated his 84th birthday observed, “You know, when I …