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"Ageing and Sageing" series (10 Parts)
"Ageing and Sageing" series (10 Parts)
I commenced this series of articles in early 2025, conscious that I was slowly heading to the milestone of 70 years of age (a few years to go yet, come 2028!!). The above image represents a nice introduction to these reflections - the butterfly emerging from a chryssalis and then a caterpillar, so that it can fly to its full capacity. However, as Merton, Finley, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross all point out, it is always destined to be "a butterfly with tattered wings" - flying and yet struggling towards the Light of Christ at the same time.
I commenced this series of articles in early 2025, conscious that I was slowly heading to the milestone of 70 years of age (a few years to go yet, come 2028!!). The above image represents a nice introduction to these reflections - the butterfly emerging from a chryssalis and then a caterpillar, so that it can fly to its full capacity. However, as Merton, Finley, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross all point out, it is always destined to be "a butterfly with tattered wings" - flying and yet struggling towards the Light of Christ at the same time.
I was concerned about the lack of much positive literature on ageing - books that treated ageing people as a problem to be solved, an inconvenience, a "waste of space" because they could not contribute economically, despite all their efforts in the past, often over 50 years or more. I list a wide variety of helpful sources (books and websites) across the various Parts.
I was concerned about the lack of much positive literature on ageing - books that treated ageing people as a problem to be solved, an inconvenience, a "waste of space" because they could not contribute economically, despite all their efforts in the past, often over 50 years or more. I list a wide variety of helpful sources (books and websites) across the various Parts.
This was a personal quest to examine the challenges and opportunities of ageing, particularly the spirituality and spiritual formation dimensions of ageing. I began the series of 10 Parts with a foundational image which then transmuted into a series of images.
This was a personal quest to examine the challenges and opportunities of ageing, particularly the spirituality and spiritual formation dimensions of ageing. I began the series of 10 Parts with a foundational image which then transmuted into a series of images.
The first guiding image was of an elderly person in their "2nd half of life" (Rohr's taxonomy; I avoid the loaded word "retirement") who had finished the exertions of their paid working life, and now had the time to sit in a contemplative manner beneath a tree at night, afterwards deciding to lie on their back and look through the branches at the stars.
The first guiding image was of an elderly person in their "2nd half of life" (Rohr's taxonomy; I avoid the loaded word "retirement") who had finished the exertions of their paid working life, and now had the time to sit in a contemplative manner beneath a tree at night, afterwards deciding to lie on their back and look through the branches at the stars.
The Parts trace the transition between day (the 1st half of life) through to evening and dusk (the 2nd half of life). Hence the series is titled: "Looking at the Stars through the Boughs of a Tree", followed by various subtitles. The 'tree' growing through life and the various seasons symbolises the growth of the person from morning to evening, from vigour to gnarled grandeur, from youthful growth to ageing loss of branches and development of hollows, destined to be the homes of other creatures. Other guiding images were the House which we build and then God takes over (C. S. Lewis), and the Fire burning the Wood (already referred to on earlier pages of this website).
The Parts trace the transition between day (the 1st half of life) through to evening and dusk (the 2nd half of life). Hence the series is titled: "Looking at the Stars through the Boughs of a Tree", followed by various subtitles. The 'tree' growing through life and the various seasons symbolises the growth of the person from morning to evening, from vigour to gnarled grandeur, from youthful growth to ageing loss of branches and development of hollows, destined to be the homes of other creatures. Other guiding images were the House which we build and then God takes over (C. S. Lewis), and the Fire burning the Wood (already referred to on earlier pages of this website).
My intention was to let the series lead me in areas that were interesting in terms of spiritual reflection and academic research. You will see some of the areas into which I was led, outlined below, including: the 1st and 2nd halves of life, reflecting on my own 1st and 2nd halves, and the leitmotif of 'contemplation' and what that means in old age.
My intention was to let the series lead me in areas that were interesting in terms of spiritual reflection and academic research. You will see some of the areas into which I was led, outlined below, including: the 1st and 2nd halves of life, reflecting on my own 1st and 2nd halves, and the leitmotif of 'contemplation' and what that means in old age.
I was also led to explore positive and negative images of 'old age' and 'the elderly', alternatives to the notion or label of 'retirement', the meaning of 'well being', how do new cadences develop in the 2nd half of life and what are the exciting opportunities that this half presents (not all ageing people find it), the meaning of 'wisdom' or 'sageing' in this 2nd half; the opportunity to become 'a monk in the world', how monasticism can guide us during the 2nd half, and some spiritual practices that can assist us in leading a life of contemplation and mystical immersion during this same period.
I was also led to explore positive and negative images of 'old age' and 'the elderly', alternatives to the notion or label of 'retirement', the meaning of 'well being', how do new cadences develop in the 2nd half of life and what are the exciting opportunities that this half presents (not all ageing people find it), the meaning of 'wisdom' or 'sageing' in this 2nd half; the opportunity to become 'a monk in the world', how monasticism can guide us during the 2nd half, and some spiritual practices that can assist us in leading a life of contemplation and mystical immersion during this same period.
Throughout the 10 parts (part 10 still to be completed) I was keen to explore what advice the saints and mystics might have for 2nd halvers, and how such advice and the aforementioned practices can assist older people to lead lives characterised by "epektasis" (Greek; stretching to their full potential) and Christian "eudaimonia" (a fuller flourishing in Christ). All 10 parts have also been uploaded to the NED (National Electronic or E-Depository) at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT.
Throughout the 10 parts (part 10 still to be completed) I was keen to explore what advice the saints and mystics might have for 2nd halvers, and how such advice and the aforementioned practices can assist older people to lead lives characterised by "epektasis" (Greek; stretching to their full potential) and Christian "eudaimonia" (a fuller flourishing in Christ). All 10 parts have also been uploaded to the NED (National Electronic or E-Depository) at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT.
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