George Eastman once said, “Light makes photography. Embrace the light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know the light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” Understanding the intensity of the noonday light and its effect on taking photos certainly helped my daughter and me on our quest to move from shadowy scenes to beautiful images. Eastman was correct. Knowing the light made the difference. 

Light in the Shade

After delving into the world of shadow and light as seen through my camera lens, as I read and reread Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” I was struck by the symbolic images of shade and light she referenced. Gorman’s words, written for the inaugural ceremony of our 46^th President, Joseph R. Biden Jr., were to reflect upon the theme of “America United.” She began her poem with a profound question, “When the day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” 

Yes, where can we find light when there is shade all around us? Where can we see the light amid a global pandemic? Where can we find light when the color of someone’s skin determines how they will be treated by society? Where can we see the light when one is judged solely on their ethnicity? Where can we find light when who we love is up for public debate if a particular standard is not met? Where can we see the light when a gender pay gap still exists? Where can we find light when agism continues to be an issue? Yes – where can we find the light?  

Gorman answers her question by the end of the poem – and I found her answer to be profound. She writes, “there is always light.”

Light Within

Light has never left us. Even in moments of what feels like never-ending shade, there is light. The caveat according to Gorman is that light is with us, “if only we are brave enough to see it if only we are brave enough to be it.”

I read in these words that silence and complacency do not bring about the light we seek. On the day I was taking photos, the shadows were there in my pictures. They were real. And, I knew that there was more to the scene than the few shadowed photos allowed.  In understanding light, and with some work, the true beauty of the blooms before me was captured. I hear the same thing in Gorman’s words. The shade is real, and, too, the light is present. To see beyond the shade to “America United” takes work. Brave work. 

Ah, bravery. Best-selling author, researcher and professor, Dr. Brene Brown talks about being brave in her work on Netflix entitled, “Brene Brown: The Call To Courage.” Brown notes five aspects of being brave which include, “Be intentional about who you accept feedback from. Belong to yourself first. Gratitude. Embrace discomfort, and come off the blocks and dive in.” 

This work is not easy. Embracing discomfort is hard work. The pay-off for being brave is witnessing light in others and ourselves, for the light is there. 

Glimpses of Light

In the shade of the last year, I witnessed glimpses of the light of which Gorman wrote. I saw the light in the brave people, the essential workers, with whom I work every day. My co-workers come to work to serve the residents we care for throughout the pandemic because our love is more vital than our fear. We came to work when the pandemic was at its worst. At times, we came to work afraid. We showed up when we were tired. This community of essential workers embraced the discomfort and dove into the water to care for our people. 

I saw the light in the brave people who came forward as witnesses to George Floyd’s murder and gave testimony to what they saw for justice to occur. I saw the light in the brave protestors speaking out against Asian hate crimes in the U.S. I also saw the light emanate from those seeking gun reform laws following a terrible month of gun violence. These are just a few of the ways that light is shining around us. It is a small snapshot of the people who have accepted the call to bravery bringing forth light and overcoming the shade. 

As Eastman spoke about light is critical to a good photo, I hear how critical light is for uniting our country in Gorman’s words. We, too, want to embrace the light and admire it. We want to know the light and love it. But as Eastman noted in the case of photography, we need to see the light for all that we are worth. Silence and complacency will not work. Bravery is key. May we be brave and shine together.

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Inscribed On The Palm of Yahweh’s Hand

As I think of the story of my daughter’s name, I am reminded of the story of the Israelite’s hearing from Isaiah that their names had been inscribed upon the palms of God’s hands (Isaiah 49.13-16a NRSV.) The Israelites had been struggling. They had experienced the loss of their Temple, the separation of families and friends and the challenge of being exiled from their home. The Israelites were grieving and had questioned where God was. They had felt forgotten amid the journey of being exiled. 

Yahweh tells them that they have been anything but forgotten during their challenges. God shares with the Israelites, “See; I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49.16a NRSV). Hearing this message would have brought joy to the Israelites. They understood that to know someone’s name meant that they were known on a deeper level. Yahweh held them close, and the Israelites had not been forgotten. 

COVID Challenges A Year Later

We have reached and moved past the first anniversary of the pandemic entering the United States. More than 500,000 people have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 virus in just a little over twelve months in the United States alone (time.com/5941537/us-covid-19-deaths-500000). Some families have experienced the traumatic loss of one or more family members. Other families have been separated for months due to visitation restrictions. Older adults who have been isolated from family over the last year are more prone to feeling the effects of isolation acutely. According to an article from the Cleveland Clinic, because of the loneliness and isolation, “‘we’re seeing a lot more patients with anxiety, depression and worsening memory loss.’” Such loneliness and isolation may have brought to mind for some of us over the past year, like the Israelites, the question, “God, where are you?” Some of us in our feelings of isolation may have and may still feel forgotten this Lent. 

Lenten Reminder

Lent is a time of remembering, pondering and looking back at our journey. Many people use spiritual practice to focus on their relationship with Christ during Lent. Journaling is one such practice that people find useful as they journey toward Easter. Helen Cepero, in her book Journaling as a Spiritual Practice, writes that “using your journal as a camera lens will allow you to zoom up close on a particular aspect of your own journey or take a step back and see the bigger picture of what might be going on within you and around you” (page 8, 2008.) Writing allows one to name their feelings, tell their stories, and to look for the Holy along the way, even when we feel forgotten. 

Journaling As A Spiritual Practice

One way to begin journaling is to take a scripture passage and to write about what you are reading. Which words stand out to you? What did you see in the passage that you may have overlooked in previous readings?  In Isaiah’s passage, what does it mean to you to read that you are inscribed on the palms of Yahweh’s hands? What feelings arise as you write about being inscribed and carried on the hand Yahwe? How many names can you think of for God? What if you inscribed those names in your journal – how would it feel about writing your name in your journal as you think about your relationship with the Holy? Maybe you could go further and inscribe the names of family, friends, co-workers, members of your faith community, clergy, your caregivers, community members, pets, neighbors, etc. You could pray for those names listed and give thanks daily for those named in your journal. It may be fun to write a letter to those on your list and let them know you have inscribed their name in your journal. Such acts may help ease feelings of loneliness and isolation this Lenten season.

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During our meeting, we grieved, some shed tears, and at times, we were silent. At other times, we spoke up against the violence we were watching. Knowing that I would write about this powerful experience throughout that time, I jotted down a few notes. On the edge of my paper, in quotes, I wrote, “words matter.” I am not sure which member of the group said those words or why, but they captured my attention as I sat to write for this series based on Parker Palmer’s The Five Habits of the Heart that Help Make Democracy Possible.

Voice and Agency

For our words to matter, we first must understand that we have a voice to speak up against social justice issues. We have the power to use our voice for good. In his book, Healing the Heart of Democracy, Palmer writes about the power of finding one’s voice and using it. He writes, “Insight and energy give rise to a new life as we speak and act, expressing our version of truth while checking and correcting it against the truth of others.” (Healing the Heart of Democracy, p. 45)

The issue is that many do not realize that they have a voice. Along life’s journey, some were taught to be silent. Palmer noted, “We grow up in educational and religious institutions that treat us as members of an audience instead of actors in a drama, and as a result, we become adults who treat politics as a spectator sport.” (Healing the Heart of Democracy, p. 45)  

I serve older adults. Some of the people I serve understand that their words matter. They were provided an opportunity along their life journey to learn that they were not mere spectators in life but rather active participants. They understand that they have a voice and know that they have the power to express their thoughts. 

For other older adults, somewhere along their journey, they learned to stand quietly in the margins. For them, the power to speak up was not instilled in them. For those who have yet to discover their voice and the ability to use it, Palmer writes, “…it remains possible for us, young and old alike, to find our voices, learn how to use them, and know the satisfaction that comes from contributing to positive change” (Healing the Heart of Democracy p.45).

Spectators to Speakers: Older Adults Claiming the Power of Their Voice

In November of 2017, the older adults I serve began to study the United Church of Christ’s Bible Study entitled Faith vs. Fear – a faith response to gun violence. At the end of our weeks of study and conversation, an older adult spoke up. The study had been so powerful that she felt moved into action. She recognized that the study had raised awareness within the group. Finding her voice and identifying her power to use it within our group’s safety, she asked how the group could bring awareness about gun violence to the greater community. Because she spoke up at that moment, the power of her question led the group into a brainstorming session. 

As the members of the group began to voice their thoughts, a plan was created. Understanding that orange is the color of gun violence awareness, the group decided to create orange hearts to give to others to wear. They invited the local police department to gather to learn more about gun violence awareness in their community. 

Finally, the group created orange hearts to send to local congregations for Valentine’s Day. Along with the orange heart was a note that stated that our community members had “recently completed the Faith vs. Fear – a faith response to gun violence UCC Bible Study. For Valentine’s Day, our response is to send orange hearts, the color of gun violence awareness, to show our choice to make a difference and to choose love over fear!” 

A few weeks later, the group received a thank you note from the pastor of one of the congregations who received an orange heart. In the letter, the pastor wrote, “Thank you for your witness to love with the gift of an orange heart. It came in the mail the day after the Parkland shooting and deeply touched me. I shared it with the congregation as well. Thank you for your ministry to our congregation.” 

This group of older adults dared to take what they had learned and to use their voice to make a positive difference. Because they understood that they had the power to speak up, this group moved from being spectators to becoming speakers if they chose. 

In this new year, may we also find the courage to use our collective voices to bring about positive change in the world.

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In this election season, I have watched debates, listened to the candidates, scanned statistics and discussed the issues our country is facing with other people. Time and time again, I have recognized that I am grateful. I am grateful to live in a country which allows my voice to be heard through my vote. I am grateful for the women who went before me to establish the right for women to vote. I am grateful that every vote counts — and that my vote matters. As I watch the news, I am grateful for other voters, standing in long lines to cast their ballots, so their voices may be heard too.

In this election season, I seek change on many levels. I am grateful that as I seek change, my vote is one way to express my choices for a better world. I believe it’s critical to understand the issues at hand as I choose a candidate to represent my voice. Working with older adults is my calling. I am grateful, thus, for advocacy toolkits, like the one created by the National Council on Aging, which helps bring to the surface for voters some of the issues effecting older adults. From issues with insurance coverage and financial investments to issues on healthy aging and how COVID-19 is affecting the lives of older adults, toolkits are a great resource for voters. The toolkit provided by the National Council on Aging provides important questions for voters to ask of those representing them, such as, “What is your plan for making proven health promotion and disease prevention programs more available to older adults?”

At the time of this writing, I am not sure how the election will turn out this year. If the changes I seek are recognized, I will celebrate and continue to work on bringing about change for those on the margins. In this uncertain time, I have also pondered what my response will be if the change I seek this election season is not as I have hoped. Although it may feel like the death of a dream for this election season, I have found words from a poem by Dorianne Laux called In Any Event, for which I am grateful:

“Nothing is gone forever. If we came from dust and will return to dust then we can find our way into anything.”

No matter the results, I will keep speaking up. I will continue to understand the issues. I will continue to advocate for older adults. And, I will continue to vote with gratitude.

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Pausing to Remember

As I have paused at the wall, other staff members, at times, have paused with me, remembering. I have been fortunate enough to have staff members share stories of the people behind the handprints — those I never knew. They have talked of family members. They have shared stories of volunteers whose handprints grace the wall. One staff member told me about a person from the greater community whose child had once worked at Fairhaven. He no longer lived in the area. Anytime she would visit Fairhaven, she would pause at the wall long enough to touch his handprint.

As a chaplain, I enjoy hearing about the people behind the handprints. Each handprint represents someone who served the residents and families of Fairhaven over the years. Since 1920, we have a history of caregiving at this location. For me, the handprints are a reminder that together, the work of our hands has made — and will continue to make — a difference in the lives of older adults.

Adding New Prints

At various times during my seven plus years at Fairhaven, I have turned the corner just as someone was adding their handprint to the wall. For these staff members, it meant something to leave their handprint behind. Although I do not know all the reasons for these additions, I do know that the work of their hands is part of the fabric of who we are at Fairhaven.

My Handprint

On August 23, 2020, after years of gazing on the handprints of others, I, too, added my handprint to the wall. For me, my handprint is a symbol of the long history of spiritual care provided to residents, families and staff here at Fairhaven. My handprint is a reminder of the spiritual work of my hands.

At times, my hands have held the hands of the dying. My hands have held the hands of residents living with dementia as they reached out their hands, looking for comfort. My hands have held the hands of family members who were grieving and searching for support. On nice days, my hands have held the handles of wheelchairs as I took residents for a stroll outside. Annually, during the blessing of the hands of staff, I have held the hands of Fairhaven’s caregivers as I have blessed the services their hands provide in caring for older adults here. I have held the hands of others during prayer. At the service installing me as the chaplain at Fairhaven, I remember during the laying on of hands, the hands of others resting on my shoulders, head and arms. During this part of the service, I remember reaching out, touching the hands of others. In that moment, I felt the power and presence of God and community. These are a few ways my hands have provided spiritual support at Fairhaven.

Hands During COVID-19

During the COVID pandemic, the work of caring for older adults during the pandemic has not been easy. There have been times, at Fairhaven, that we have collectively and personally experienced grief, sadness, fear, and exhaustion. Yet, through the work of our hands, not a day has passed when the older adults we serve lacked care and compassion. My handprint, like the handprints of my fellow teammates, represents the essential services I provide to those I serve.

I read a statement recently that sums up, for me, why my handprint on the wall at Fairhaven matters. It stated, “We are here because we love the ones you love.” Yes! Our wall of handprints at Fairhaven represents people whose hands serve out of compassion, care and love for the people entrusted in our care. Now, as I walk by the wall of handprints, the work of my hands is represented symbolically, too.

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I am going to let you in on a secret that I have known since I was a child: older adults are amazing people! When I was younger, I enjoyed heading to the neighbors’ houses to sit and listen to the older adults in my life talk. I was fascinated by the stories they shared.

Later in life, as an optometrist, I gravitated toward working with older adults where I worked. Not only was I interested in the ophthalmic issues they presented, I truly enjoyed getting to know my older patients.

Now, I work with older adults as the chaplain of a life plan community, and I am fortunate enough to hear about their spiritual lives. They trust me with their stories of connection, and I truly feel the older adults in my life enhance my life. Making room in my life to celebrate the older adults who walk this journey with me makes sense.

Everyday Ways to Celebrate the Older Adults in Your Life (Even During a Pandemic)

1. Listen to their stories. Whether you call, write, FaceTime or visit an older adult in person, pause to listen to them. Older adults have a lifetime worth of stories to share, and most would love to share them. We celebrate them by stopping to hear their tales.
2. Be present. Whether you are meeting with an older adult for a window visit, an outdoor visit, a home visit or a phone call, give the older adult your full attention. Much in life may distract us from being fully present with others. The gift of our full attention is a great gift for the older adults in our lives.
3. Ask questions. Did they fight in a war? Did they live through the Depression? Did they join Martin Luther King, Jr. in peaceful protests against segregation? Did they play a sport or an instrument in high school band? I once spent a year asking older adults in my life about the Depression. I was amazed at their responses. Their stories changed how I viewed the Depression in rural Ohio, as they shared with me stories of giving to neighbors and of truly loving their neighbors as they loved themselves.
4. Use technology. I was talking with an older adult recently. He shared part of a song that his grandmother used to sing to him as a young boy. I told him that I had never heard the song. He said that he was unable to share the rest because he could not remember it. I pulled out my cellphone, and we looked up the song together. When I finally found the words, he listened to me tell him the song in its entirety. “Hearing those words brings back good memories,” he told me.
5. Break bread together. If you are in a situation where you may safely share a meal with an older adult, this is a great way to celebrate them. For those who are unable to safely visit an older adult for a meal in person, you can break bread virtually. FaceTime, Houseparty app and Zoom are just a few examples of technology you can use to dine together. For older adults, eating a meal with others — in person or virtually — may help prevent weight loss, especially if the older adult is typically eating in isolation.
6. Meet them where they are. For some of us, an older adult we know may be living with dementia. They may not be able to share stories in the same way as other older adults. Meet them where they are. We celebrate older adults living with dementia by respecting them, being kind, smiling and being present.

• Call them by name. I have a pet peeve. I find it disrespectful when we call older adults — even those we don’t know well —“honey” or “sweetie.” Celebrate older adults by calling them by the name of their choice.

These are a few simple ways to celebrate older adults daily. Who are the older adults in your life? How are you celebrating them? May we make room to celebrate the older adults in our lives. Happy celebrating!

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Graduation. Coming from a root word meaning “step,” it is a time to celebrate the work a student has completed in order to move on with the next phase of their life.  This year, graduation ceremonies look and feel different from traditional ways of celebrating due to the pandemic. While some schools have postponed or cancelled graduation ceremonies, other schools have found unique ways of celebrating this milestone in the life of their students. There are schools celebrating graduation via Zoom and social media. Other schools have held drive-in or drive-by graduation ceremonies. Students at some schools were invited with only their parents to witness them walk across a stage to receive their diploma. There were schools that taped students receiving their diplomas with few people present and then created a video to look as if the entire class was present for the ceremony. No matter the creative way schools have been holding ceremonies, what the graduation celebration importantly brings to the student is a sense of closure as they take that next “step” in their life.

LOVE THY GRADUATES

As the mom of a 2020 high school graduate, graduation has been a topic of interest in our home. We felt sad when we realized that a traditional ceremony was not going to happen. Later, we experienced joy as we celebrated my daughter’s accomplishments at a drive-in graduation ceremony. We are not alone, however. In our community, everyone — even those without a 2020 graduate in their home — listened and/or watched the ceremony as it was live streamed. Our community grieved the losses felt by the 2020 graduates and wanted to participate and cheer them on during this celebration. Regardless of whether or not the graduate the community knew the graduate, each graduate received cheers and well wishes. It was a great reminder that, although the pandemic has wreaked havoc around the world, causing the cancellation of many events, love has not been lost.

REMEMBERING ONE’S GRADUATION

At one point during the spring, many people on Facebook were posting graduation photos as a way of demonstrating solidarity with the 2020 graduates. These photos helped people reflect upon their graduation celebrations. As I viewed the various senior photos of my friends, I wondered about the older adults in my life. What was their graduation ceremony like?

WORDS OF INSPIRATION FROM OLDER ADULTS

I began talking with older adults about their graduations. I heard stories of joy. They talked about the sense of community they experienced. Each of them talked about how they grieved for the 2020 graduates and their many losses. As the older adults shared their stories and talked about the class of 2020, I wondered if they had words of wisdom to share with those graduating this spring. Most were happy share a piece of wisdom. The following are words of inspiration for 2020 graduates from older adults in my life:

“Make your own decisions.”
“Learn everything you can.”
“Study.”
“Work hard.”
“Be kind.”
“Be appreciative.”

NEXT STEPS

I encourage you to speak with the older adults in your life about their graduation celebrations. What were they like? How did they celebrate? And, find out what words of inspiration they have for the 2020 graduates. Our older adults have words of wisdom to share, they simply need a listening ear. Blessings in your listening. Blessings in your sharing. Congratulations to the class of 2020!

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In mid-March, as the COVID-19 pandemic moved closer to home, I walked around the Life Plan Community I serve to talk with residents about how they were feeling. With me, I took scripture to read to those who were searching for words of encouragement. “O God, you are my God. I seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:1, 5, 8 were the verses chosen for that day. The scripture reading made me question something. The psalmist sang of praising God with “joyful lips.”

I wondered what residents were thankful for amid a pandemic. As I walked around our community, it was evident that residents had a variety of things to be thankful for. There was one conversation, however, which went in a different direction. As I spoke with Maddy, the conversation moved into a discussion on hope. We found hope within the ancient song, and this gave us both a sense of peace. I asked Maddy about her life and how challenges along her journey helped her cope with all the emotions we are experiencing during this pandemic. And then Maddy shared her story and words of hope.

Maddy’s Story

During World War II, Maddy lived with her family on the East Coast. As a young teenager, Maddy shared that her mother had been part of the auxiliary for the American Legion. One of the ways Maddy’s mother served was to be a “spotter.” During her scheduled two-hour time slots, she would watch for planes from a steel tower. If she saw a plane, she would record the time, the direction from which the plane flew, any symbols on the plane and what the plane looked like. Maddy noted that she went with her mother up the tower and helped her look for planes. Maddy is now 92 years old. She talked about how challenging that time was in her life, yet how much she enjoyed spending the time with her mother. Maddy talked about what she learned from that experience and how it gave her hope for today. The Second World War ended. Her mother no longer had to watch for planes. Life moved forward for Maddy and her family. She noted, “this [pandemic] is going to end” like the war ended. “This will be over with soon. At least, I keep telling myself that,” Maddy voiced. “I have always had hope.”

Hope Is Not Canceled

For many of us, events in our lives have been canceled. Birthday parties, worship services, graduations, hair appointments, baby showers, sporting events, awards banquets, concerts, family meals, weddings, calling hours, conferences, surgeries, vacations and the list goes on. With all of these cancellations, we may be experiencing grief. Although we may be grieving, grief will not necessarily extinguish our sense of hope. “Hope is the ability to believe that good can happen out of anything” Joan Chittister once said.

For Maddy, hope is not canceled. Yes, she is grieving the loss of seeing her family frequently, but she noted, with hope in her voice, “Do not worry. It is going to be OK.” She understands that this pandemic will one day be over, and she will be able to see her family. Until then, she paints, puts puzzles together and talks others.

Got Hope?

Amid this challenging time, what gives you hope? When you look back over your journey in life, what have you survived? How do your stories bring hope to you today? What about your community? What are the stories of your community which give you hope? Who are the older adults in your life? What are their stories of hope?

I am grateful for Maddy and her perspective on hope. Thank you, Maddy! I encourage everyone to ask an older adult about the challenges they have faced throughout their life and what helped them move forward. Their stories may just bring you hope!

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Building Community Through the Shared Word

Henri Nouwen in his book, “Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith,” reflected upon how the words we choose to say to others and ourselves may also lift rather than break people. In fact, the words we say may create community.  “When we say, ‘Let me tell you what we saw. Come and listen to what we did. Sit down and let me tell you what happened to us. Wait until you hear whom we met,’ we call people together.” When someone is able to share their story and have another be fully present to hear their words, amazing things begin to happen. Relationships are built. Healing commences. Walls that divide come down. Community is created.

Healing Wounds: A Story of Listening to the Sacred Words of Others

I remember sitting with a group of older adults once. One of the members of the group shared a story personal to her. This story was so personal, I doubt she had shared it with others. Yet, in the midst of this group setting, she felt heard. Maybe for the first time. She shared her story with the group, and we listened. We listened deeply. Her story brought some of us to tears. When she realized that no sticks would be thrown and no stones would be flung, healing began. The group could feel her walls tumbling down. We could see her posture change. It was evident by her tone and how animated she was in the sharing of her story that she felt safe. She trusted us to hold her words, her story, as sacred. I witnessed the building of community that day.  And, it certainly was a holy moment.

Being Intentional with Our Words

For the last three years, the place where I am called to serve in ministry has been intentionally examining the words we use. I serve a life plan community, with residents living in long-term and memory care suites, in short-term rehabilitation and also in assisted and independent living apartments. It is home to our residents. Because it is a home, we want the words spoken to reflect a home rather an institution. For example, residents live in neighborhoods rather than in units. Each home is called a community rather than a facility. And, some residents may need to live in a secured neighborhood rather than a locked unit. The words we use matter. They paint a picture. We want the picture to reflect abundant life. In being intentional, the word of the week is posted for staff weekly and is discussed at the beginning of worship weekly with residents.

Lenten Journey

For Christians, we are currently in the midst of our Lenten journey. It is a time of reflection. It is a time to examine our actions. I believe it is also a time to reflect upon our words. How are the words we are using in our places of worship and ministry settings lifting people up? How might our words be creating division? How might our words build community? And, how might our words be like sticks and stones?

Holy Words

Friends, may our words this week and always reflect the light of the Christ within us. May our words be a shelter to those weathering a storm. May our words bring comfort as the world faces the effects of the coronavirus in our communities. And, may our words be light where darkness resides. Blessings as you journey!

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Bernard Bibbly. Do you know him? No? I did not know of Mr. Bibbly either, until a few days ago. I happened to read his story in my newsfeed, and I became an instant fan. You see, Bibbly, at the age of 71, took up the art of dancing. He tried many types of dancing at first, but his passion is ballet. Recently, Bibbly and some of his classmates participated in the Royal Academy of Dance’s Level One exam. Passing the exam, Bibbly danced away with a bronze.

Formerly an electrical engineer, Bibbly took up the art of dance after his wife died. He felt it was important to get out and be with other people as he grieved. One of the reasons his story touched me is that Bibbly is breaking down stereotypes surrounding aging. Bibbly recognized a desire to learn how to dance and decided that it was the right time, at the age of seventy-one, for him. Discovering his love of dancing as an older adult, his teacher noted that “he’s encouraging other adults to get involved.”

National Skilled Nursing Care Week

Bibbly is not the only older adult to pass along words of wisdom to others. Each year, the American Health Care Association (AHCA), provides a theme for National Skilled Nursing Care Week, which is held in May. This year, the AHCA’s theme is “Sharing Our Wisdom.” The association recognizes that older adults have insights about aging and other topics that they may share with others, if asked. “Wisdom,” the AHCA notes, “is a synthesis of knowledge and experience. Residents offer a unique perspective based on their life experiences, reminding us to be present, celebrate the small moments, and value connections.”

Sharing Wisdom: A Conversation

The continuous care retirement community (CCRC) that I am called to serve has taken up the AHCA’s challenge to dialog with older adults about their experiences in life. This year, we are asking older adults in our community to share their insights in a variety of ways. Throughout the community, there are papers upon which older adults may write their words of wisdom. At the beginning of worship, older adults are asked to share their wisdom of the week. During visits, community members are sharing their insights on life. Even during a Bible study session, older adults in the community shared bits of wisdom with the group during the conversation.

The wonderful thing about the insight our community is gaining over the year is that we are not keeping it to ourselves. The goal is to share the wisdom the older adults are providing, with their permission, in a variety of ways.

The Season of Epiphany

For those of the Christian faith tradition, we are currently celebrating the season of Epiphany. It is a season of light, revelation and wisdom. How might the theme in your ministry setting center around wisdom sharing this year? How might the older adults in your home, your community, your congregation, your CCRC, your hospital, your hospice center, your dance studio, and more creatively be asked to share insights they have gained throughout their life? How might such wisdom sharing be used in an intergenerational event?

Be creative. Be present. Be open to the possibility that you may be transformed by the wisdom older adults in your life share. Listen. Start a dialog. The older adults in our lives have much to share, I believe. May you be transformed by the fresh insight they bring to conversations!

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