This book seemed to have been commissioned by the Sydney Anglican Diocese to help people think about ageing and ministry. The first half of this short book looks at the hurdles our culture has in approaching ageing and then what the Bible says about growing old.
Our culture overvalues youth and beauty and the perceived freedom and potential that youth brings. Everyone wants to be young or considered young a heart. This implicitly says that old is bad and besides the kids in primary school who want to be older, every other age group doesn't want to grow old. Our culture is also very transactional and values productivity. Those who have retired are now no longer productive, so how do they and society now perceive those who are less productive. There is also the added stress of being a burden on family and society that people who grow old do not want to feel (which incidentally years ago I argued is actually a human trait), nor do people want to be reminded of death which the ageing process brings to the forefront.
However, the Bible presents a different view of ageing. It presents the reality of death and our longing for eternity. Originally there was the Tree of Life, but we are now banished from that. Only in the new heavens and earth will that tree return for all. However, ageing also is an opportunity for maturity. Israel was to respect the grey heads for age brings wisdom (something our culture perhaps doesn't value). This of cause is not a rule for everyone who is old, there were many older folk who strayed from God and needed a rebuke. People also can form deep habits that may need to be undone. But, there are those saints who have feared the Lord for many many years who we can and should put into leadership positions. If we really hold to the belief that God sanctifies His people - that is overtime He works on their character to be more in line with Jesus - it must then follow that those who have journeyed with God over a long time have had a great chance to live the Christian life through a host of different life experiences and so have matured, can speak about what God has done for them through seasons, and teach us how to have hope and joy, even in pain and while being cared for themselves.
The rest of the book is then kind of a how to live in the Third and Fourth Age of life. These "ages" are technical terms, with no hard cut off, but more about future stages of life. The third age is when you are independent, most likely retired and the period we hope will last forever. The fourth age is when our health fails and have to receive care from others to get by, no one looks forward to this phase.
The "how-tos" in this book weren't particular things you should do, as everyone is different, but was more about what virtues you are demonstrating in these "ages" or circumstances that you find yourself in. For the Third Age how might you find ways to focus more on Jesus and not less, how might you stir up someone to love and good deeds. Temptations may change over time, but how do you exercise prayerful growth in endurance and gentleness, or joy and mercy. Are there more opportunities for hospitality, kindness, goodness and love? Retirement doesn't mean not working, your life may involve more care for your family (grandchildren) or learning a skill to use to help others (eg a pastoral care course to visit the sick) or you could think in structures and governance and use that to help the local church or community organisation.
In the Fouth Age, your health will slow you down and bring pain. It is not for sissies, and should come with some preparation as you face death. The virtues (or vices) we have will become settled habits of which we should be aware. There will be disappointment with the mismatch of expectation of visits from family to the reality, to your ability to move without pain, and admitting that you need care from others. All of this comes with its own hurdles, but the Christian life isn't one of avoiding surfing or pain, even in the Fourth Age. We can share in Christ's suffering and accept care from others (allowing them the opportunity to grow in their serving of you). This chapter made me think about how I would be in a nursing home, will I be short-tempered and cranky, or kinda to those who assist me, being patient and kinda and asking open-ended questions to those around me to see how they are going.
At the back of this book, there was a suggestion on how to do ministry to the ageing with a focus on the Sydney Diocese. They looked at the growing numbers of people who will be in this category over the next 15-20 years and the need to do something. Essentially they put forward a bottom-up approach, the local church is to employ someone to do the work and train up lay leaders to help with caring for the elderly. There may be already many people in the Third Age who have resources and time who could be helped to identify their gifts and find ways they can use them in their local church. They can be encouraged to train practically or theologically to be more effective in whatever role they find themselves in. This solution sounds simple and local, of which I appreciated. Waiting for a large beast to do something from the top may take time before something actually gets done. It is best to start at the ground and then grow and mature and then involve more people to help - just like people.
0 comments:
Post a Comment