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glory in the "third third"
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On Saturday, April 21, Disability Concerns of the RCA and CRCNA hosted a conference called “Aging: Challenges and Opportunities,” featuring keynote speaker Syd Hielema. Several Classis Ontario folks made our way to Woodstock, ON to find a full parking at Maranatha CRC. But out of the 10 spots reserved for seniors, only one was occupied! Was this the right place? Or was everyone there in denial about getting older?
Inside the doors there was a pleasant buzz of anticipation, lots of grey hair, a few mobility assists and the smell of hot coffee. Settling into comfortable chairs and round tables, we were led in worship by a self-described “happy grandma” – Diane Plug. She confessed she has a hard time remembering names, but she can reassure a widower who has no one waiting for him that God was in the man’s home. God knew his name, and loved him.
Keynote speaker Syd Hielema carried on this theme of our relationship with God. Even as the creaks and groans of old age set in, God sees something bigger in us. Hielema referred to Walter C. Wright’s book The Third Third of Life: Preparing for Your Future. God sees the third third as an “ever increasing glory.” Seniors may be tempted to give up, saying they are finished, but our creator knows what he put into us. He can continue to grow Christ in us if we walk together with him.
People in the third third of life can give others the deep grace of honesty. The depth and length of experience has taught us that life is bigger. God is deeper and stronger than our fears. Such grace-filled honesty can help us on the journey to be overflowing with the love of God. Hielema reminded us that in the reformed liturgy we have the privilege each week of laying down our false identities, clouded with sin. We can start fresh and forgiven again, every Sunday anew. It’s comforting that God is patient, even when we get discouraged with our constant failing. He doesn’t expect us to live at 120 clicks. He will go with us at three kms per hour. God is willing to walk with us. In the third third; that’s an accessible and acceptable pace.
Inside the doors there was a pleasant buzz of anticipation, lots of grey hair, a few mobility assists and the smell of hot coffee. Settling into comfortable chairs and round tables, we were led in worship by a self-described “happy grandma” – Diane Plug. She confessed she has a hard time remembering names, but she can reassure a widower who has no one waiting for him that God was in the man’s home. God knew his name, and loved him.
Keynote speaker Syd Hielema carried on this theme of our relationship with God. Even as the creaks and groans of old age set in, God sees something bigger in us. Hielema referred to Walter C. Wright’s book The Third Third of Life: Preparing for Your Future. God sees the third third as an “ever increasing glory.” Seniors may be tempted to give up, saying they are finished, but our creator knows what he put into us. He can continue to grow Christ in us if we walk together with him.
People in the third third of life can give others the deep grace of honesty. The depth and length of experience has taught us that life is bigger. God is deeper and stronger than our fears. Such grace-filled honesty can help us on the journey to be overflowing with the love of God. Hielema reminded us that in the reformed liturgy we have the privilege each week of laying down our false identities, clouded with sin. We can start fresh and forgiven again, every Sunday anew. It’s comforting that God is patient, even when we get discouraged with our constant failing. He doesn’t expect us to live at 120 clicks. He will go with us at three kms per hour. God is willing to walk with us. In the third third; that’s an accessible and acceptable pace.
In spite of the negative feelings that can arise in old age--
that we are forgotten, ignored, underestimated and quietly talked about--
there are still many opportunities for seniors to increase in glory,
becoming more like Christ.
that we are forgotten, ignored, underestimated and quietly talked about--
there are still many opportunities for seniors to increase in glory,
becoming more like Christ.
Elna Groot-Nibbelink encouraged joining a support group such as SMILE: Seniors Managing Independent Living Easily. Amie Spriensma shared the concept of a big umbrella that covers everyone—fast, slow or needing a hand. Mark Stephenson looked at the kinds of changes that can happen in the parent-child relationship as parents age. And Siebert VanHouten emphasised the importance of mental health and attitude, suggesting that as we travel the journey of aging we need to develop a healthy attitude so that we continue to have a sense of purpose and meaning.
We all have our abilities and disabilities, and we all can continually grow in our faith – loved and nurtured by our heavenly Father.
*Adapted with permission from an article by Grace Miedema in the Christian Courier, May 28, 2018, online edition.
We all have our abilities and disabilities, and we all can continually grow in our faith – loved and nurtured by our heavenly Father.
*Adapted with permission from an article by Grace Miedema in the Christian Courier, May 28, 2018, online edition.