When we hear the term “the second half of life” thoughts of
getting old and dealing with health concerns come to mind to the exclusion of
others. Not true! The “second half” of a life is more about
thinking in a new, broader, more inclusive way.
US culture seems to be all about the “first half,” finding
love, building a family, a career, acquiring things, attempting to create
security. It seems that in the “second
half” we need to “let go” of everything, downsize our possessions, say goodbye
to our friends and family, some of our physical ability.
And that’s not easy.
And it doesn’t seem pleasant, indeed, at times it is very painful.
And it doesn’t seem pleasant, indeed, at times it is very painful.
Yet there is much more to the second half of our lives. There is so much more to be gained as we
begin the process of letting go. We can
let go of black and white thinking, of regrets and resentments and
misconceptions. We can embrace
forgiveness, compassion and the truth that we are much more that what we have
accumulated and what we have accomplished.
In the second half of life, we can begin to cease asking “Who
am I?” and instead serve God by being who we ARE, divinely created, part of
God’s world, agents of God’s love.
No matter what half of life in which you find yourself (and
indeed, it may feel as if it changes from week to week!) we will come together
to explore this broad, encompassing path of spirituality.
Using Richard Rohr’s work Falling Upward and Joan Chittister’s The Gift of Years we will explore this journey
together.
Please consider joining us for a six week study on this
empowering approach to our birthright as God’s children.
