by Ken Kelley

I’m blessed to lead our senior adult ministry here at KPUMC and am pleased that many of our seniors join by Zoom on Fridays to share their lives and their love with each other and with Colleen and me. Their group name, Good Shepherds, aptly describes what we all do for each other as we care for one another, guiding one another through whatever life brings toward “green pastures.”

Our senior adult support group meets by Zoom every Tuesday morning at 10:30 for an hour or so. During this time, we contemplate life, usually using a book or other material as a guide.  After catching up on each other’s lives and discussing our thoughts about the day’s news, we open the study portion of our gathering with a prayer by Sr. Moya Hanlen that concludes,

Finally, as my heart slows a little after the work of the years,
May it expand in love for You and all people.
May it rest secure and grateful in Your loving Heart
Until I am lost in You, completely and forever.
Amen.

This prayer comes from the first book we studied, Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life (7 GATEWAYS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH), by Jane Marie Thibault and Richard L. Morgan (pg.7). One of the important lessons we learned and discussed was the meaning of being a “Christ-gift” in the last third of our lives. “It means that in all circumstances our lives will remain meaningful to us and be of use to others” (pg. 82) – wise words to people of all ages.

We’re currently studying Parker J. Palmer’s Book, ON the BRINK of EVERYTHING:  Grace, Gravity & Getting Old. We will soon read Palmer’s thoughts on “true self” based largely on the writings of Thomas Merton. I offer you Thomas’ summary,

True self is the self with which we arrive on earth, the self that simply wants us to be who we were born to be.
True self tells us who we are, where we are planted in the ecosystem of life, what “right action” looks like for us,
and how we can grow more fully into our own potential. (pg. 75)

I invite you to spend some time contemplating the meaning of Palmer’s words. As you consider where you are “planted in the ecosystem of life” and before you decide “what ‘right action’ looks like” for you, think about your roots.  Are you deeply rooted, “like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)?  Have you dug deeply enough to firmly plant yourself into solid ground?

As you blow in the wind of life, may God’s Spirit guide you into what “right action” looks like for you.

Godspeed,

Ken