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Aging Matters: Finding your calling for the rest of your life
Academy of Parish Clergy’s Top Ten Books for Parish Ministry
Vocational discernment, says R. Paul Stevens, is a lifelong process — one that takes on even more significance in later life. In this book Stevens argues that our calling does not end with formal retirement; to the contrary, we do well to keep on working, if possible, till life's end.
Stevens delves into matters of calling, spirituality, and legacy in retirement, showing that we must continue to discern our vocation as we grow older in order to remain meaningfully engaged for the rest of our lives. He reframes retirement as a time of continued calling and productivity and points to biblical wisdom that can help us redefine aging as an extraordinarily fruitful season of life.
- GenresSpiritualityFaith
199 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2016
43 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
R. Paul Stevens
68 books12 followersR. Paul Stevens is professor emeritus of marketplace theology and leadership at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, and a marketplace ministry mentor. He has worked as a carpenter and businessman, and served as the pastor of an inner-city church in Montreal. He has written many books and Bible studies, including Doing God's Business, Work Matters, Marriage Spirituality, The Other Six Days and Spiritual Gifts. He is coauthor (with Pete Hammond and Todd Svanoe) of The Marketplace Annotated Bibliography.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 20, 2018
I had previously read and enjoyed the author’s book Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture. Having recently retired, this book looked to be quite appropriate for me.
The author, 78 years old when he wrote this book, writes that the book is for those wanting to understand what aging means and how to go about it fruitfully, and how to help others face it and thrive through it. In the first section of the book, he looks at the question of aging in terms of calling or vocation. He considers reframing retirement as a positive experience, asks whether we are supposed to work until we die, and how we should work. He then considers how we discern our calling for the rest of our lives.
In the second section of the book he considers whether the aging process itself is a spiritual discipline, a spiritual journey, and also asks what vices and virtues are uniquely associated with aging. In the third section he looks at leaving a multifaceted legacy, how to prepare for death and what there is on the other side. Throughout the book, the author presents aging as a time of potential fruitfulness. He writes that all of us can approach aging with a positive attitude and seize the special opportunities which this new situation affords.
At the end of each chapter are discussion questions and a Bible study on a passage from the Bible. These can be used for individual or group study. discussion.
The author states that retirement is a relatively recent creation, being introduced during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For some, retirement means moving from full-time to part-time work, or moving from one kind of employment to another. For other people, retirement means taking up a hobby or investing a lot of time in leisure activities. What follows for some people is a life of what he calls institutionalized sloth. He writes that there is no doubt that retirement is a challenge. Whether voluntary or involuntary, retirement is a useful shock. It is a trauma that can produce a re-evaluation of one’s life.
The questions raised by retirement can become the most important self-assessment tools for the rest of your life:
• What have I really done with my life up to now?
• What contribution to family, neighbor, to the world, and the environment do I still want to make?
• What is the meaning of my life?
• What am I actually living for?
• What is most important in my life?
Retirement can become a time of significant personal growth. The growth can be intellectual, social, relational, and spiritual. Retirement can open up possibilities of work, voluntary or paid, that better fits one’s gifts, talents, personality, and life experience. Retirement can become a critical time to re-evaluate one’s vocation. He tells us that calling provides meaning and purpose in one’s life. We do not retire from our calling even if we have retired from a career. Retirement can become a time when we can make a transition, from what one author describes as “aging to saging”. The author tells us that the potential of mentoring the next generation — in the workplace, in the family, or in the church - opens up possibilities for older people to become elders in the traditional and biblical sense of people noted for wisdom and experience who can be sought for advice, help, support, and direction.
Although the book covers a number of subjects related to aging, I was most interested in what the author had to say about our calling, vocation and work in retirement. Here are 15 good quotes on that subject that I pulled from the book:
• Scripture from Genesis to Revelation affirms that work is a critical part of what it means to be a human being in the image of God. This is one of the reasons why I argue that we should work until we die.
• Most good work in this world is a way to extend the kingdom of God and to bring shalom to people and creation.
• While one chooses a career, one is chosen for a calling. For there to be a callee, there must be a caller. And the caller is the divine Creator.
• The gospel calls us to serve God’s purposes in the world through civic, social, political, domestic, and ecclesiastical roles in order to do the work of the Lord.
• It doesn’t matter whether one is a cobbler or an apostle, washing dishes or preaching. And all good work, in some way, advances the kingdom of God.
• Discerning your calling is a lifelong process.
• Your calling remains about the same throughout your life, but the expression of it changes.
• The supreme motivating factor in walking worthy of one’s calling is the fact that we must all give account on the day of judgment for what we have done in our callings.
• All good work advances the kingdom of God and so-called secular work is not less pleasing to God than religious work. What makes work holy is not the religious character of the work but the fact that it is done with faith, hope, and love.
• For people whose life was wrapped up in their daily work, who lived for their work, actual retirement is a kind of death. And it is not surprising that some, mostly men, sometimes die shortly after retirement. There is nothing left to live for.
• All good work done with faith, hope, and love lasts.
• If we keep working, at least on some level, and keep learning, and keep playing, we are more likely to end well.
• In some way we do not fully understand, our human work and labor will surely find a way into the new creation (Rev. 14:13). It is not just our spiritual work and our spiritual life that will endure and that matter to God, but all work and life undertaken with faith, hope, and love (1 Cor. 13:13; 1 Thess. 1:2-3).
• In the new heaven and new earth, we will be fully human beings who, along with continuous worship, amazing relationships, and awesome experience, will enjoy work as we never did in this life.
• In a profound sense the work we do in this life is preparation for work we will do forever, even if there is no direct correspondence with the actual deed, substance, or subject of our daily work. The giftedness we bring to work, the way we actually work, and, most important of all, for Whom we work will all carry over into the finest workplace in the universe with the best working conditions imaginable.
The author, 78 years old when he wrote this book, writes that the book is for those wanting to understand what aging means and how to go about it fruitfully, and how to help others face it and thrive through it. In the first section of the book, he looks at the question of aging in terms of calling or vocation. He considers reframing retirement as a positive experience, asks whether we are supposed to work until we die, and how we should work. He then considers how we discern our calling for the rest of our lives.
In the second section of the book he considers whether the aging process itself is a spiritual discipline, a spiritual journey, and also asks what vices and virtues are uniquely associated with aging. In the third section he looks at leaving a multifaceted legacy, how to prepare for death and what there is on the other side. Throughout the book, the author presents aging as a time of potential fruitfulness. He writes that all of us can approach aging with a positive attitude and seize the special opportunities which this new situation affords.
At the end of each chapter are discussion questions and a Bible study on a passage from the Bible. These can be used for individual or group study. discussion.
The author states that retirement is a relatively recent creation, being introduced during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For some, retirement means moving from full-time to part-time work, or moving from one kind of employment to another. For other people, retirement means taking up a hobby or investing a lot of time in leisure activities. What follows for some people is a life of what he calls institutionalized sloth. He writes that there is no doubt that retirement is a challenge. Whether voluntary or involuntary, retirement is a useful shock. It is a trauma that can produce a re-evaluation of one’s life.
The questions raised by retirement can become the most important self-assessment tools for the rest of your life:
• What have I really done with my life up to now?
• What contribution to family, neighbor, to the world, and the environment do I still want to make?
• What is the meaning of my life?
• What am I actually living for?
• What is most important in my life?
Retirement can become a time of significant personal growth. The growth can be intellectual, social, relational, and spiritual. Retirement can open up possibilities of work, voluntary or paid, that better fits one’s gifts, talents, personality, and life experience. Retirement can become a critical time to re-evaluate one’s vocation. He tells us that calling provides meaning and purpose in one’s life. We do not retire from our calling even if we have retired from a career. Retirement can become a time when we can make a transition, from what one author describes as “aging to saging”. The author tells us that the potential of mentoring the next generation — in the workplace, in the family, or in the church - opens up possibilities for older people to become elders in the traditional and biblical sense of people noted for wisdom and experience who can be sought for advice, help, support, and direction.
Although the book covers a number of subjects related to aging, I was most interested in what the author had to say about our calling, vocation and work in retirement. Here are 15 good quotes on that subject that I pulled from the book:
• Scripture from Genesis to Revelation affirms that work is a critical part of what it means to be a human being in the image of God. This is one of the reasons why I argue that we should work until we die.
• Most good work in this world is a way to extend the kingdom of God and to bring shalom to people and creation.
• While one chooses a career, one is chosen for a calling. For there to be a callee, there must be a caller. And the caller is the divine Creator.
• The gospel calls us to serve God’s purposes in the world through civic, social, political, domestic, and ecclesiastical roles in order to do the work of the Lord.
• It doesn’t matter whether one is a cobbler or an apostle, washing dishes or preaching. And all good work, in some way, advances the kingdom of God.
• Discerning your calling is a lifelong process.
• Your calling remains about the same throughout your life, but the expression of it changes.
• The supreme motivating factor in walking worthy of one’s calling is the fact that we must all give account on the day of judgment for what we have done in our callings.
• All good work advances the kingdom of God and so-called secular work is not less pleasing to God than religious work. What makes work holy is not the religious character of the work but the fact that it is done with faith, hope, and love.
• For people whose life was wrapped up in their daily work, who lived for their work, actual retirement is a kind of death. And it is not surprising that some, mostly men, sometimes die shortly after retirement. There is nothing left to live for.
• All good work done with faith, hope, and love lasts.
• If we keep working, at least on some level, and keep learning, and keep playing, we are more likely to end well.
• In some way we do not fully understand, our human work and labor will surely find a way into the new creation (Rev. 14:13). It is not just our spiritual work and our spiritual life that will endure and that matter to God, but all work and life undertaken with faith, hope, and love (1 Cor. 13:13; 1 Thess. 1:2-3).
• In the new heaven and new earth, we will be fully human beings who, along with continuous worship, amazing relationships, and awesome experience, will enjoy work as we never did in this life.
• In a profound sense the work we do in this life is preparation for work we will do forever, even if there is no direct correspondence with the actual deed, substance, or subject of our daily work. The giftedness we bring to work, the way we actually work, and, most important of all, for Whom we work will all carry over into the finest workplace in the universe with the best working conditions imaginable.
July 2, 2016
In recent years there have been a number of books published on the topic of aging, dying, and the Christian faith. No doubt, this is to meet the needs and to answer the questions of an aging church in the West and to help those in the latter half of life respond to spiritual concerns about growing older. While there are other books that examine the spirituality of the second half of life (Richard Rohr's Falling Upward readily comes to mind), R. Paul Stevens takes a more unique approach in that his book relates primarily to the question of what one's calling is in later life, and especially after one retires.
The book is broken up into three sections and the first part deals solely with calling. The first chapter is notable for it's argument that retirement is not a biblical concept, in that in the ancient world one had to work as long as one was able. After a brief history of how retirement came about, the chapter one looks at how retirement can be a catalyst for growth and of a broader and more biblical concept of calling. While Stevens does not suggest we should not retire, his emphasis is that the idea of idling one's remaining days in self-leisure is not a Scriptural notion and that one can still contribute to society, even if one is not receiving remuneration. This last point is addressed in more detail in the second chapter as the concept of calling is explained and some guidelines on late-life calling are provided. And the third chapter takes a closer look at some Scriptural examples of those who lived out their late-life calling faithfully, with special emphasis on Abraham and Jacob.
The second part of the book reflects on the spirituality that comes with aging. Here, I felt the book had some similarities to Richard Rohr's book, especially in chapter four where midlife is viewed as a time of transition from doing to being, and from living to accomplish much to living into a more contemplative lifestyle. Stevens lists a few ways that aging provides opportunities for us to grow spiritually. The next two chapters detail the potential vices and virtues that arise as one grows older.
The third section looks at how one's calling affects others beyond one's death in what we refer to as "legacy". Chapter seven is about different facets of one's legacy, including factors to consider when bequeathing a monetary legacy. There were two things that stood out for me in this chapter that are not talked about often enough: one's non-monetary legacy, to include out investment in other people and how that affect our relatives for good or bad even after we are gone, and the importance of writing a living will. The next chapter, chapter eight, is about preparing for death by reviewing the life we have lived and along that review to enable us to "finish well". And the last chapter looks forward to what we can expect in the life, in the new heaven and new earth, and does so by way of clearing some misunderstandings on the nature of death and on Scripture says about our life after death.
Overall, this was a welcome book to the growing bodies of literature on calling and on aging. While some, perhaps much, of it was already familiar to me, I think Stevens did a great job at exploring the intersection of calling and the spirituality of aging. He draws upon and interacts with some interesting thinkers in this area, some of who were familiar to me, including Catholic Richard Rohr and Jewish Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and some who were unfamiliar, such as psychiatrist Paul Tournier. I think one of the best features of the book was the Scripture studies at the end of each chapter. One of the studies that impacted me most was Jacob's blessing of his grandchildren upon his deathbed. Having practiced vision divina with an artist's rendering of that scene and knowing Jacob's history, as one who stole his brother's birthright and blessing, made it a very impacting study on aging, calling, and gaining wisdom from one's mistakes. Ultimately, Stevens, who has written a number of books on calling and the workplace from a faith perspective, and who is also in the third third of his life, draws upon a lifetime of wisdom and experience. To the extent that this book passes on his accumulated wisdom to the next generations, I would say he has embodied the generativity that he wrote about in this book.
To read more reviews and articles on related topics of calling and spiritual formation, you can visit my blog at: http://stadtmenschblog.wordpress.com/.
The book is broken up into three sections and the first part deals solely with calling. The first chapter is notable for it's argument that retirement is not a biblical concept, in that in the ancient world one had to work as long as one was able. After a brief history of how retirement came about, the chapter one looks at how retirement can be a catalyst for growth and of a broader and more biblical concept of calling. While Stevens does not suggest we should not retire, his emphasis is that the idea of idling one's remaining days in self-leisure is not a Scriptural notion and that one can still contribute to society, even if one is not receiving remuneration. This last point is addressed in more detail in the second chapter as the concept of calling is explained and some guidelines on late-life calling are provided. And the third chapter takes a closer look at some Scriptural examples of those who lived out their late-life calling faithfully, with special emphasis on Abraham and Jacob.
The second part of the book reflects on the spirituality that comes with aging. Here, I felt the book had some similarities to Richard Rohr's book, especially in chapter four where midlife is viewed as a time of transition from doing to being, and from living to accomplish much to living into a more contemplative lifestyle. Stevens lists a few ways that aging provides opportunities for us to grow spiritually. The next two chapters detail the potential vices and virtues that arise as one grows older.
The third section looks at how one's calling affects others beyond one's death in what we refer to as "legacy". Chapter seven is about different facets of one's legacy, including factors to consider when bequeathing a monetary legacy. There were two things that stood out for me in this chapter that are not talked about often enough: one's non-monetary legacy, to include out investment in other people and how that affect our relatives for good or bad even after we are gone, and the importance of writing a living will. The next chapter, chapter eight, is about preparing for death by reviewing the life we have lived and along that review to enable us to "finish well". And the last chapter looks forward to what we can expect in the life, in the new heaven and new earth, and does so by way of clearing some misunderstandings on the nature of death and on Scripture says about our life after death.
Overall, this was a welcome book to the growing bodies of literature on calling and on aging. While some, perhaps much, of it was already familiar to me, I think Stevens did a great job at exploring the intersection of calling and the spirituality of aging. He draws upon and interacts with some interesting thinkers in this area, some of who were familiar to me, including Catholic Richard Rohr and Jewish Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and some who were unfamiliar, such as psychiatrist Paul Tournier. I think one of the best features of the book was the Scripture studies at the end of each chapter. One of the studies that impacted me most was Jacob's blessing of his grandchildren upon his deathbed. Having practiced vision divina with an artist's rendering of that scene and knowing Jacob's history, as one who stole his brother's birthright and blessing, made it a very impacting study on aging, calling, and gaining wisdom from one's mistakes. Ultimately, Stevens, who has written a number of books on calling and the workplace from a faith perspective, and who is also in the third third of his life, draws upon a lifetime of wisdom and experience. To the extent that this book passes on his accumulated wisdom to the next generations, I would say he has embodied the generativity that he wrote about in this book.
To read more reviews and articles on related topics of calling and spiritual formation, you can visit my blog at: http://stadtmenschblog.wordpress.com/.
April 22, 2019
Stephens provides great insight into how we can use our "retirement" years. He advocates that we continue to work. He defines work in these words, "Work is energy expended purposively – whether it be manual, mental, or both, and regardless of whether it is or is not remunerated."
These years can be some of our most productive as, if we are fortunate, we are relieved of the burden of working for the reward of money and sustenance but can now work for the higher ideal of "soul-work" - discovering our "real-calling". It is possible, if not likely, that many of us have laboured for a living which may have been divorced from our "real-calling".
The new work required of us consists of mentoring, teaching and nurturing the next generation. Stephens has a term for this - Generativity. It means investing in the next generation, being creative in work whether voluntary or remunerated, being explorers and being a blessing to society and the church.
Ageing is a spiritual discipline. It slows us down and teaches us to accept things we cannot change. Superfluous material goods, superfluous thoughts, attitudes and beliefs are progressively discarded until what remains is truth and enlightenment, our relationship with God and living to serve God in his glory. Stripped bare it is a time of great honesty. No more charades, no more party games, no more hiding. Time to stand up and be counted and serve the greater good. Your service at times may be non-descript but if centred with God will shine forth for the greater good in many subtle ways. The Desert Fathers found that they had to deal with themselves. There is no escaping that challenge and that is the point of greatest honesty.
At the end of our earthly life God will ask two questions:
• Do I know you? Do we have a relationship, and
• What did you do with what I gave you?
"And so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal.” (2 Cor 4:18).
Two final thoughts from Stephens:
• "The great invigorating future promise for those in Christ is not the immortality of the soul – a Greek idea – but the resurrection of the body.
• "Our works done in this life are transfigured rather than annihilated. This makes an enormous difference to how we view our work in this world and our stewardship of creation."
With this creed, understanding and belief we have the energy to continue to grow and contribute to society until our last earthly day and our life to come. Hallelujah to life, ageing and retirement.
These years can be some of our most productive as, if we are fortunate, we are relieved of the burden of working for the reward of money and sustenance but can now work for the higher ideal of "soul-work" - discovering our "real-calling". It is possible, if not likely, that many of us have laboured for a living which may have been divorced from our "real-calling".
The new work required of us consists of mentoring, teaching and nurturing the next generation. Stephens has a term for this - Generativity. It means investing in the next generation, being creative in work whether voluntary or remunerated, being explorers and being a blessing to society and the church.
Ageing is a spiritual discipline. It slows us down and teaches us to accept things we cannot change. Superfluous material goods, superfluous thoughts, attitudes and beliefs are progressively discarded until what remains is truth and enlightenment, our relationship with God and living to serve God in his glory. Stripped bare it is a time of great honesty. No more charades, no more party games, no more hiding. Time to stand up and be counted and serve the greater good. Your service at times may be non-descript but if centred with God will shine forth for the greater good in many subtle ways. The Desert Fathers found that they had to deal with themselves. There is no escaping that challenge and that is the point of greatest honesty.
At the end of our earthly life God will ask two questions:
• Do I know you? Do we have a relationship, and
• What did you do with what I gave you?
"And so we have no eyes for things that are visible, but only for things that are invisible; for visible things last only for a time, and the invisible things are eternal.” (2 Cor 4:18).
Two final thoughts from Stephens:
• "The great invigorating future promise for those in Christ is not the immortality of the soul – a Greek idea – but the resurrection of the body.
• "Our works done in this life are transfigured rather than annihilated. This makes an enormous difference to how we view our work in this world and our stewardship of creation."
With this creed, understanding and belief we have the energy to continue to grow and contribute to society until our last earthly day and our life to come. Hallelujah to life, ageing and retirement.
August 27, 2022
For most of my life aging has been a mystery keep concealed by a consistent lack of interest and dread. Fueled by our culture’s nonstop conviction that eternal youth is the goal for which we must always be striving, thoughts about what life in its final quarter would be like were fleeting at best . It was something to joke about when it managed to surface, and then be resubmverged to remain unconsidered as quickly as possible.
Despite my best efforts to delay it, that final quarter has now arrived. Thankfully for myself and the rest of those now entering eldership Paul Stevens provides a banquet of substantial, deep and encouraging insights in to what we’ve been pushing off to the side for far too long.
Perhaps most surprising are his thoughts on the advantages of old age- the wisdom of experience, relief from the time pressures of work, the ability to chose what you give your time and effort to. Stevens is a gifted writer with a wealth of literary sources to draw from, and he draws from sources across many disciplines to drive home his points about what a well lived old age , and a well lived death might look like.
Christian readers will appreciate his thoughts on the hope of the afterlife and its connection to our current vocations. If you are wedded to the Greek concept of disembodied spirits floating on clouds plucking harps prepare yourself for a welcome surprise. Stevens makes a good case for the Bible viewing the next life in much more down-to earth
venues, with work playing a role( without the frustrations imposed by the curse).
This is a good read for anyone but especially those nearing or in retirement. I found myself wishing I’d read it ten years ago, but anyone still breathing could benefit.
Despite my best efforts to delay it, that final quarter has now arrived. Thankfully for myself and the rest of those now entering eldership Paul Stevens provides a banquet of substantial, deep and encouraging insights in to what we’ve been pushing off to the side for far too long.
Perhaps most surprising are his thoughts on the advantages of old age- the wisdom of experience, relief from the time pressures of work, the ability to chose what you give your time and effort to. Stevens is a gifted writer with a wealth of literary sources to draw from, and he draws from sources across many disciplines to drive home his points about what a well lived old age , and a well lived death might look like.
Christian readers will appreciate his thoughts on the hope of the afterlife and its connection to our current vocations. If you are wedded to the Greek concept of disembodied spirits floating on clouds plucking harps prepare yourself for a welcome surprise. Stevens makes a good case for the Bible viewing the next life in much more down-to earth
venues, with work playing a role( without the frustrations imposed by the curse).
This is a good read for anyone but especially those nearing or in retirement. I found myself wishing I’d read it ten years ago, but anyone still breathing could benefit.
January 31, 2022
For me, 2021 marked one of those significant life events. So, I thought I would do some recognition, reading, and ruminating about aging.
Surely, for Christians, aging should mean a lot more than a life of continual leisure, golfing, going on cruises, or whatever. My apologies to those who enjoy periodic leisure, golf, a cruise, and the like.
There are some good insights throughout this book. One that struck me was that the Kingdom of God is “the invasion of all of life with the shalom-bringing, life-enhancing rule of God” (125).
This is only one book on aging that I will be reading, but it has the important message that aging is a season in which we ought to continue realizing and living God’s purpose for us.
Surely, for Christians, aging should mean a lot more than a life of continual leisure, golfing, going on cruises, or whatever. My apologies to those who enjoy periodic leisure, golf, a cruise, and the like.
There are some good insights throughout this book. One that struck me was that the Kingdom of God is “the invasion of all of life with the shalom-bringing, life-enhancing rule of God” (125).
This is only one book on aging that I will be reading, but it has the important message that aging is a season in which we ought to continue realizing and living God’s purpose for us.
April 28, 2018
Very worthwhile to read this book. Since I am a senior I found myself being able to relate to many areas of the topics covered. If a senior is not involved with others or just not interested in joining in, as long as they are physically able, it is better to get out, not stay inside with the TV on or just reading all day long. Life is too short!
The book has been well researched and encourages readers to embrace aging as a positive thing, to stay active in church and in the community.
I totally believe that while being a senior isn't popular with the younger generation, but there could be an enormous amount of wisdom to share with them.
Some day it may be too late.
The book has been well researched and encourages readers to embrace aging as a positive thing, to stay active in church and in the community.
I totally believe that while being a senior isn't popular with the younger generation, but there could be an enormous amount of wisdom to share with them.
Some day it may be too late.
April 24, 2020
This is a terrific book for anyone who wants to grow old without becoming irrelevant. While looking carefully at the effects of aging, the author helps us see what Scripture, and various studies, have to say about the aging process and how we can continue to fulfill our calling and continue to grow until the day we die. I’d highly recommend it for anyone middle aged or older. I read the book on my own, but there are questions and additional study aids at the end of each chapter which would make it a really good small group study. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to the women who pass through our church’s Women’s Mentoring Ministry classes.
July 11, 2017
Aging Matters should be read along with Falling Upwards by Richard Rohr. Both books attempt to give spiritual advice to those who have passed their fiftieth birthday.
Aging Matters is a self-help book. Read it through once to find ideas that apply to your situation. If you are within two years of retirement, you will probably find this book most useful. If you are already retired and dealing with the challenges of retirement you will find it helpfull but not the last word on the subject.
Aging Matters is a self-help book. Read it through once to find ideas that apply to your situation. If you are within two years of retirement, you will probably find this book most useful. If you are already retired and dealing with the challenges of retirement you will find it helpfull but not the last word on the subject.
March 15, 2022
Good overview of the theology of aging and the importance of proactively preparing for the later stages of one life. While the book is targeted to those close to retirement, I found some of the theological discussions to be helpful and relevant for younger people. The book is likely more effective for a group study as each chapter includes a lengthy series of discussion questions. Overall, it's a very practical book, where some chapters may resonate more than others with the reader.
August 19, 2017
A Subject worth thinking about since we can't seem to stop the process. The book was well research and reflective - I think I will probably read again because I have a feeling that "finding a calling for the rest of life" is not an easy process.
March 19, 2024
While we may be getting older, we work smarter and slower, but always following God's lead. A very good challenge. Lovely epilog!
April 2, 2022
I read this book in Kindle format. The book touched on a subject that I was not fully aware even though I am now considered a young oldie. The author divided his writing into three parts. The first part focused on our calling. The idea that your calling may change but never really ends. The second part dealt with spirituality. Age does not necessarily make a person more spiritual. Spirituality needs to be nurtured even in our later years of life. The third and final part talks about our legacy. What is it we want to leave our children? Overall the author managed to bring some very important and relevant information for anyone entering or in their retirement years. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand more about growing older and some of the things that will help people in their lifelong walk with Jesus.
May 16, 2016
keeping your spiritual vocation in retirement. Practical. Biblical studies. Not so much what how do you make the second half of life meaningful but how do you keep your whole life meaningful.
April 19, 2024
A wonderful compendium of wisdom on aging set in the context of a rich spirituality and a mature and nuanced understanding of vocation and calling that continues through all of the stages of life.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews