Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life

by Jane Marie Thibault, Richard L. Morgan

Overview

From age 60 to 90 and beyond, people face a time of special challenges and opportunities to draw closer to God. This book offers readers Bible-based meditations that address 7 tasks essential to living the last third of life with purpose. Inspiring topics covered include facing limitations, continuing spiritual growth, and leaving a legacy.



Helpful reflection questions make this book suitable for group use or for personal growth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780835811170
Publisher:	Upper Room Books
Publication date:	08/15/2012
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	78,566
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Jane Marie Thibault is an assistant professor of family medicine at the U. of Louisville, in KY.

Table of Contents

Prayer for Aging 7

Preface: A Word to Our Readers 9

Gateway 1 Facing Aging and Dying

Go on a Pilgrimage 14

Looking Age Straight in the Face 17

120-Blessing or Curse? 19

Affirm Your Age 22

Long Life Is Not Enough 24

Still Flourishing in Old Age 27

Practice Dying 29

Gateway 2 Living with Limitations

Limited But Renewed 32

Don't Get Around Much Anymore 34

Aging's Double Whammy 36

Downsized But Growing 38

Bent But Not Broken 40

Jesus' Promise 42

Why Doesn't God Take Me? 45

Gateway 3 Doing Inner Work

The Work of Forgiving 48

Rummaging for God 50

Envy: A Deadly Sin of Later Life 52

Pride: Another Deadly Sin 55

Afternoon Work 57

Drop the Mask; Get Real! 59

A Hard Thing to Be 62

Gateway 4 Living In and Out of Community

Created for Community 66

The Inner Circle 69

Stability at Last 71

Welcoming Neighbors and Strangers 73

Learning Interdependence: To Receive Is to Give 75

Possessed by Possessions: Owned by Stuff 78

Becoming a Christ-gift 81

Gateway 5 Prayer and Contemplation

Meditate Not Vegetate 86

Silence, Please! 88

Solitary Refinement 90

Divine Reading 92

Accepting Uncertainly 94

Savoring Your Life 97

Corresponding with God 100

Gateway 6 Redeeming Loss and Suffering

Finding the Gifts of Diminishment 104

Lessons from Gethsemane (Part 1) 106

Lessons from Gethsemane (Part 2) 109

Dedicate Pain and Suffering to Help Others 112

Aging: A Natural Monastery? 115

So Many Losses 118

My Friends-They're All Gone 121

Gateway 7 Leaving a Legacy

How Do You Want to Be Remembered? 124

Connecting with Ancestors 126

My Legacy: Faith at the End of Life 128

The Power of Loving-kindness 130

My Legacy: Dedicated Suffering 133

Letter to Grandchildren 136

The Final Gateway 138

Suggested Reading 141

About the Authors 142