Conscious Aging as Sage-ing

In her book “The Gift of Years,” Sr. Joan Chittister “shows us clearly that so-called old age is a special period of life — maybe the most special of them all.” At last Sunday’s Service the question was asked: “How do I learn or practice not to be afraid of my own death so that I may die in peace?” Old age prepares us for our death and ideally gives us wisdom, freedom and a prosperity of another kind beyond material wealth — enlightening not simply ourselves, but also those around us. Aging is not about the length of years we manage to get out of life, but about living into the values offered every day, and about growing older with grace and purpose. Let’s explore this inevitability in Sunday’s Service.