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New column to focus on the gifts of aging and spirituality

Insight readers will get to enjoy a new column in 2006, entitled "The Wisdom Years." The column, which will take the place of the regular Insight feature, "The Wellness Corner," is slated to run in every issue of the newsletter next year, and will be authored by Bernice Olson-Pollack. Bernice was inspired to create the feature as a result of becoming a certified "Age-ing to Sage-ing" facilitator, along with Sister Shirley Morrissey.

As a part of the licensed Age-ing to Sage-ing program, (which is not affiliated with the column), sisters have been invited to participate in workshops to learn about spirituality and aging.

Sister Linda Bellemore, from Sisters of the Holy Cross, led one such workshop at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse on Nov. 10. The morning discussion centered on finding meaning in memories, and participants were encouraged to share their childhood memories with others then reflect on what those memories mean to them as adults. "We give glory to God in memories," Sister Linda explained. "There is nothing in our lives that has happened to us that isn't a precious piece of who we are today."

The Wisdom Years column will focus on positive aging in a broad sense, explains Bernice, "It has a lot to do with the spiritual insight a person gains as they get older, and rounding out their life, the bumps in the road as far as what happened in life. It's finding closure for the things that might not have been easy for them and to make peace with that."

Bernice says to develop her columns, she will tap the expertise of other women who are knowledgeable about aging and spirituality, including Sisters Joan Weisenbeck and Blanche Klein. "It is about quality living with what gifts the aging process brings to a person. A lot of it has to do with insight as opposed to outlook," Bernice explains.

The Wisdom Years

by Bernice Olson-Pollack

Author's note: In the first article of this series I introduce the broad meaning of spirituality and aging. You are invited to explore how you might create greater spiritual contentment as you become older. The second article, The Growing Elder, encourages you to find a safe place to nourish your personal reflections. Quiet revelations of what is most important in life may then blossom during times of solitude or within the comforting presence of valued relationships.

The material in these articles is being discussed by sisters at St. Rose Convent who are participating in the bi-monthly Spirituality and Aging series facilitated by Sister Shirley Morrissey and Bernice Olson-Pollack.

Resources for this text include:

Aging and Spirituality, Spiritual Dimensions of Aging Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, David O. Moberg, PhD (editor)

From Ageing to Sageing: A Profound New Vision of Growing Older, Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald S. Miller

Winter Grace, Spirituality and Aging, Kathleen Fischer

The historic St. Rose Convent gate casts long shadows over the new fallen snow.

The meaning of spirituality and aging

In the midst of winter, the landscape seems barren, drab and gray. It is a stark contrast to the multiple layers of brilliance seen during the other seasons. Winter seems to whisper a quiet beauty that can only be appreciated when the other more dominant colors have been removed.

Winter has been used metaphorically to describe the later years of life. During the natural progression of aging, peak vitality wanes little by little with every passing year. Physical prowess and achievement-oriented activities are often reflections of days gone by. What happens next is consciously determined by the aging person who is willing to let go in order to move forward.

At every stage of life there is always the potential to grow as a human being. Certain losses must be anticipated by the older adult to ensure that true fulfillment can continue to be present for that individual. The evolving older adult mindfully practices to develop a heightened awareness and gracious acceptance of what "is" and what is yet to be.

There is sometimes a fear associated with the natural decline that occurs in aging. The losses experienced seem to increase the sense of vulnerability as the person gets older. Fortunately, a positive trend is easing its way in to replace existing notions that getting older means a reduction of purpose. It is quite possible that this shift could be related to the fact that there continues to be a growing number of educated and vocal older adults who speak for their peers. These individuals are on a quest to discover what is necessary for creating a much-deserved richness to the later years of life.

There is hope unfolding as a deeper realm of living is being more fully explored. It has been described as the spiritual dimension. Spirituality cannot be easily defined. In this context, the divisions of mind, body and spirit have been smudged and softened like the hues around the setting sun. Sharper edges are blended together to unify all that is most good among the three components that are uniquely human. This provides a more nourishing environment for spirituality to grow. Grounded placement on an elevated level of maturity helps the aging person address the challenges that accompany the process of getting older with a greater sense of peace.

The growing elder

In the wintertime, refuge is sought to find shelter from the cold and darkness that is outside. We look for protection from the elements by coming inside for warmth, light and comfort. The physical shift moves us away from the exterior world toward an inner sanctum. There is a subtle invitation to appreciate togetherness, notice the quiet and become more introspective.

The last season of living can be an important time to develop internal growth, expand the intellect and sow the seeds of wisdom. The quality of how the remainder of life will be spent should also include a deeper involvement with significant loved ones and society as a whole.

In his book, Aging as a Spiritual Journey, Eugene C. Bianchi describes this. "Emphasis on interiority should not suggest withdrawal from the world in elderhood. Rather, the interior life becomes, in part, a preparation for contributing the authentic wisdom of age to the central concerns of communities and nations."

Older people are learning that the elder years are an excellent time for them to nourish their spirituality. They develop internal leverage to help them manage the progressive physical challenges that often occur with aging. When effort and energy are devoted to "thought-full" spiritual practices, older adults can continue to find ways to value their own self-significance.

It is imperative to have an arena of peer support where elders gather to live in community, reflect on their lives and share common experiences. Such a setting also has attentive ears for listening to the stories of the olden and golden days. Personal recollections are recognized as authentic pieces of history that have come alive.

This is also the ideal place where individuals feel safe to share their promising visions of the future. When there is a living hope in older adults, fleeting doubts about the unknown can be minimized. Reverend Clyde Carlton (1999), director of pastoral care at Oakwood Village in Madison, Wis., shared a special story of inspiring hope: "I asked an 83-year-old woman what the greatest thing was that happened in her life. She said, 'It has not yet happened. We learn that there may always be a surprise just around the next corner.'"

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