PILGRIMAGE INTO THE LAST THIRD OF LIFE

7 GATEWAYS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Facillitated by Rev. Brian McCaffrey, Chaplain at LutheranCare in Clinton, NY

Sponsored byThe Northeast Forum on Spirituality & Aging

An the Older Adult Ministry Team of the Upstate Conference of the United Methodist Church

“Because of the vast differences in the way people age, this book

attempts to address the spiritual concerns of both the

hale and the frail, whatever the chronological age.” p.10

Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life: 7 Gateways to Spiritual Growth 

by Jane Marie Thibault and Richard L Morgan; published by Upper Room, 2012

PILGRIMAGE INTO THE LAST THIRD OF LIFE

Facilitated by

Rev. Brian McCaffrey Chaplain

at LutheranCare in Clinton, NY

Hosted by

Tom DeLoughryUnited Methodist Church of UNY

PILGRIMAGE INTO THE LAST THIRD OF LIFE

While we’re waiting to begin, please

use CHAT to say “Hi!” and tell us where you live.

JOURNEY vs PILGRIMAGE

JOURNEY – “The act of going from one place

to another”

X XFrom point To point

A B

PILGRIMAGE “a journey of great

moral or spiritual significance…

a life of meaningful intent and spiritual intensity,

a far more vital way of looking at the experience

of the Last Third of Life.” p.14

We re-frame our view of aging when we honor later life as a pilgrimage.

Thibault & Morgan, 2009

SO…

To envision late life as pilgrimage,1. We choose to acknowledge that we no

longer have to maintain the illusion that we are still young. (We don’t even need to use the euphemism, “young at heart.”)

Why? What served us well earlier may impede our growth in later life. (Jung)

How do we ‘re-frame’?

2. To acknowledge that our time is limited.

3. To believe we are following a call to advance – to go forth from the known and comfortable into the unknown and often uncomfortable --even painful -- for our ultimate benefit.

We choose…

4. not to retire from life but to re-fire into new life.

5. to interpret all positive and negative physical, intellectual, social and spiritual changes as new territory to traverse in our advancement to wisdom.

We choose…

6. to embrace inter-dependence: we invite others to go on pilgrimage with us,

we help them along their new path and accept their help.

“Alone + Together “

We choose….

7. to see the aging process as our final pilgrimage of this life---the one that will ultimately lead us to our Beloved, our Source, our Fulfillment, the Meaning we seek!

JOURNEY INWARD JOURNEY OUTWARD

LOVE GOD

LOVENEIGHBOR

REFLECTION ACTION

PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH

PRAYER SERVICE

7 GATEWAYS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTHMARCH 12TH : Facing Aging and

DeathMARCH 19TH : Living with Limitations MARCH 26TH : Doing Inner WorkAPRIL 2ND : Living In and Out of

CommunityAPRIL 9TH : Prayer and

ContemplationAPRIL 16TH : Redeeming Loss and

SufferingAPRIL 23RD : Leaving a Legacy

GATEWAY 2

Living with Limitations

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in

weakness” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power

of Christ may dwell in me.2 Corinthians 12:9

A RETREAT ISA TIME OF PRAYER

*PUT YOUR FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR

*BREATHE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT (Inspiration)

LET US PRAY

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

I am weak, but Thou art strong;Jesus, keep me from all wrong;I’ll be satisfied as longAs I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

◦Refrain:

Just a closer walk with Thee,Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,Daily walking close to Thee,Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME YOU WERE

CONSCIOUS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO DO

EASILY?

LIVING WITH LIMITATIONS

OUR EXPECTATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF GOD NEEDS TO BE REFLECTED UPON SO THAT WE CAN GROW IN WISDOM

BEFORE

AFTER

ESTABLISHING A NEW

NORMAL

FUTURE

UNKNOWN

FEAR

UNKNOWNPOWERLESSNESSNOT GOOD ENOUGHNOT LOVABLEDEATH

IT IS ONLY IN THE DARK THAT YOU CAN SEE THE STARS

OUR GOD ISTOO SMALL,

EVEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SHOULD

CHANGE

PRESENT MOMENT

PRESENT MOMENT

GOD

Rev. Brian McCaffrey 28

BIG PICTURE

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

Rev. Brian McCaffrey 29

God is love.1 JOHN 4:8

Perfect LoveDrives Out Fear 1 JOHN

4:18

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Nothing Can Ever Separate Us From

God’s Love