I listened to an Atlantic article on aging via Apple News this week. The magazine’s title for the article is “The Longevity Revolution.” In Apple News, it’s entitled, “America Needs to Radically Rethink What it Means to Be Old.” Regardless, it’s about aging and the reality that we’re getting older. Rather, more of us are living longer than those generations before us, so the average age of those considered older is getting higher and higher as medicine and technology expand life expectancy.

I’ve heard others reflect on this reality before, such as another article last year suggesting the need to change how we think about retirement. The “retirement age” that used to be the target for leaving gainful employment and doing all the fun things we could never do when working is just a number picked out of the sky. In fact, it’s a number that leads to harm for many people. For one, when we live longer than we used to, and the cost of care continues to rise, sometimes retirement funds don’t last as long as we do. Research is also unequivocal that stopping work too early can lead to an earlier death. Keeping the body and the mind busy and the purpose that often comes with work do wonders for slowing the aging process in many ways.

Still, another article I read within the last six months highlighted the need to rethink our approach to medicine and health because, although we live longer, our bodies are wearing out. Those final years aren’t much fun when our bodies are falling apart. The critical number is “active” life expectancy, not just life expectancy. Others call it aiming for “health expectancy” over life expectancy. Either way, a longer life span won’t be too much fun if it’s not active and healthy.

The article I referenced at the start acknowledges that we must be thoughtful about how we frame life after 50, as our old assumptions don’t hold true. “Senior citizen” is a term on its way out as we now think of people over sixty as living into their “later adulthood.” Age is just a number in many ways. I know many folks who are happily and effectively working deep into their seventies and eighties. We’ve all known at least a few people who worked into their nineties. Not all vocations and jobs lend themselves to octogenarians and nonagenarians. Most Americans have expressed concern about the age of the current President and President-elect for a reason. Cognitive ability and physical stamina decline at different rates and times for everyone. Regardless, there is still much to offer later in life than we may be programmed to accept based on the traditional aging model.

When we talk about living faithful lives, using the gifts God gives us, it applies to everyone. In the Church setting, I’m well aware that many of our members aren’t going to show up for a physical ministry opportunity. I know that some simply can’t drive after the sun goes down, and others may not be able to get up and going early in the morning. And yet, as I’ve said before, we all have ministries we can engage in, even if it happens from our sofa. Our wisdom and experience can yield incredible results even as our career potential drops off. The article’s author even notes gains in later adulthood, including: “greater equanimity, greater emotional resilience…a heightened appreciation of life’s blessings.” All those traits are gifts to the world if we care to put them into practice in the community around us.

This week I listened to a colleague who has been in ministry for decades describe his decision to take a sabbatical. I think he’s in his early eighties. He is stepping away from regular pastoral responsibilities of any kind, and he will be visiting family and praying about this chapter in his life. He told our local Clericus (gathering of clergy) that he hadn’t had a sabbatical since the early 1980’s. I pointed out that most people with his experience weren’t talking about a sabbatical but had entered retirement long ago. Retirement, as we commonly think of it, isn’t in his vocabulary, though he did admit his discernment might lead him to stay on sabbatical. Either way, I know he won’t come back and do nothing.

Tom+

[As I sit here editing this, we just finished a staff bowling outing, and I can feel my “sliding knee” cramping up. I need to work on my own health span! I have a long way to go…]

Here is a “Prayer for the Aged” from the Book of Common Prayer. I wonder what age constitutes “aged?”

Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all whose increasing
years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation. Provide for
them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding
helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and, as their
strength diminishes, increase their faith and their assurance
of your love. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ
Lord. Amen.