Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life

by Thibault, Jane Marie; Morgan, Richard L.

• ISBN13: 9780835811170
• ISBN10: 0835811174
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-09-01
• Publisher: Upper Room

Summary

How shall we spend our God-gift of an extra three decades? The Last Third of life (age 60 and beyond) offers significant challenges that Thibault and Morgan propose we approach as a pilgrimage. Their scripture-based meditations and reflection questions examine 7 tasks essential to living the Last Third fearlessly and with purpose:

Table of Contents

Prayer for Aging	p. 7
Preface: A Word to Our Readers	p. 9
Facing Aging and Dying
Go on a Pilgrimage	p. 14
Looking Age Straight in the Face	p. 17
120-Blessing or Curse?	p. 19
Affirm Your Age	p. 22
Long Life Is Not Enough	p. 24
Still Flourishing in Old Age	p. 27
Practice Dying	p. 29
Living with Limitations
Limited But Renewed	p. 32
Don't Get Around Much Anymore	p. 34
Aging's Double Whammy	p. 36
Downsized But Growing	p. 38
Bent But Not Broken	p. 40
Jesus' Promise	p. 42
Why Doesn't God Take Me?	p. 45
Doing Inner Work
The Work of Forgiving	p. 48
Rummaging for God	p. 50
Envy: A Deadly Sin of Later Life	p. 52
Pride: Another Deadly Sin	p. 55
Afternoon Work	p. 57
Drop the Mask; Get Real!	p. 59
A Hard Thing to Be	p. 62
Living In and Out of Community
Created for Community	p. 66
The Inner Circle	p. 69
Stability at Last	p. 71
Welcoming Neighbors and Strangers	p. 73
Learning Interdependence: To Receive Is to Give	p. 75
Possessed by Possessions: Owned by Stuff	p. 78
Becoming a Christ-gift	p. 81
Prayer and Contemplation
Meditate Not Vegetate	p. 86
Silence, Please!	p. 88
Solitary Refinement	p. 90
Divine Reading	p. 92
Accepting Uncertainly	p. 94
Savoring Your Life	p. 97
Corresponding with God	p. 100
Redeeming Loss and Suffering
Finding the Gifts of Diminishment	p. 104
Lessons from Gethsemane (Part 1)	p. 106
Lessons from Gethsemane (Part 2)	p. 109
Dedicate Pain and Suffering to Help Others	p. 112
Aging: A Natural Monastery?	p. 115
So Many Losses	p. 118
My Friends-They're All Gone	p. 121
Leaving a Legacy
How Do You Want to Be Remembered?	p. 124
Connecting with Ancestors	p. 126
My Legacy: Faith at the End of Life	p. 128
The Power of Loving-kindness	p. 130
My Legacy: Dedicated Suffering	p. 133
Letter to Grandchildren	p. 136
The Final Gateway	p. 138
Suggested Reading	p. 141
About the Authors	p. 142
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