"You're Only Old Once" by Dr. Seuss

I celebrated my 77th birthday on Easter Day, the only time that both will coincide in my life-time! According to the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, "Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox on March 21, a date which is fixed in accordance with an ancient ecclesiastical computation, and which does not always correspond to the astronomical equinox." It has occured on April 24th once in 189 years!

It was especially significant for me since I share my birth date with two friends. The Rev. Karen Ann Campbell, a close friend for whom I worked for nine years, and her family invited me to join them for the day. We went to church and Karen preached a wonderful sermon, had lunch at a very lovely restaurant and then shared gifts and birthday cake at her home. It was a very joyous celebration! All my children and friends called me when I got home in the late afternoon and I felt very honored and loved! During the week I was invited to lunch twice by another two of my close friends to celebrate. The first took me to our favorite seafood restaurant, and the second, took me to a charming tea room with a collection of antiques where we enjoyed delicious food and browsing.

At age 77, how do I feel? I am aware that I am growing old! That my memory sometimes falters.That my motivation to make changes (like losing weight) is lost. That my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be. That three quarters of my life has been lived (maybe more!). That I tire more easily. That insomnia is becoming regular. That I cannot read as fast as I used to. That I cannot do all the things that used to give me so much pleasure.

I am aware that I'm on a slippery slope! But I am also aware that I'm "in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in!" (Dr. Seuss) And for today I'm grateful for the shape I'm in. I am still pretty adept at the computer and with a camera and a GPS has restored my comfort level with travel. I can handle a simple cell phone but I seem to be missing the gene all young people seem to have.

I am now three years from being an octogenarian! My father lived for 88 years and my mother for 86 years so odds are that I will live until 80 something. How do I feel about that? That will require another blog to discuss! When I was very young and survived rheumatic fever I always felt that I would have a healthy old age. Funny, the crazy ideas that you get! I am doing all the things that older adults are supposed to do to stay mentally alert and have "quality of life." I will just have to be the best I can be and wait and see!! It will be an interesting journey!

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 our Lord. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer

God loves us too much to leave us alone!

“I don’t know how many of you watch the ‘reality’ TV shows,” the priest began her sermon. The theme of the sermon was “God loves you too much to leave you alone,” based on the scriptures for the second Sunday in Lent. She envisioned Sarah and Abraham, from the first reading, as contestants on a reality show.

At 100 (Abraham) and 90 (Sarah) years of age, God promises them the birth of a child and tells them that their offspring will be as numerous as the stars. Sarah laughs at the very thought of enjoying pleasure with Abraham again. God tells them to name the child Isaac. He makes a covenant with them, promising that they will be the grandparents of Kings and multitudes. This is the passage, one of my personal favorites, which led me to use the name of “Sarah” for this blog. It is about a very old woman who gives birth at a very advanced age. “God loves us too much to leave us alone.” There are many ways of “giving birth.” Nearly all endeavors lead to something new coming forth and being “born.”

The sermon went on to other “contestants” and the phrase, repeated several times, that God loves us too much to leave us alone, evoked many thoughts. The first being laughter and that I wasn’t at all sure that I wanted God to get involved! I just want to be left alone to do my thing, which nowadays includes too much TV time and napping. The last time I felt called by God to do something, led to a great disappointment and being told that I was “too old.” I haven’t yet resolved completely my profound sense of loss. Then two and a half years ago I had a stroke, reminding me that I am not in control.

I may not ever be called to do anything memorable. Perhaps God is calling me to do the best I can do in the circumstances in which I find myself. Perhaps God will continue to nudge me and perhaps I will continue to respond, “Who do you think you’re nudging?” But I think that the Reverend Karen Ann Campbell is right. God loves me too much to leave me alone.

I grow old, ever learning many things.

Solon

As I Grow Old

As I grow old I want to have a face etched with the experiences of my youth, my young adult years, my middle age and my old age. I want my face to reflect all the places I’ve been, all the things I’ve done, all the people I’ve known, all the smiles and tears of a lifetime. I don’t want to plump my face with botox and erase all the evidence of living. As if I’ve lived in an eternal state of youth, not having known the joys and sorrows of adulthood and the wisdom of age. I want my hands to reflect the diapers I’ve changed and the cookies I’ve baked and the laundry I’ve done. The hands I’ve held in love and the hands that have reached out to others. Age is not the end of life, it is the fulfillment of life. And all the signs of aging, some of which are not pleasant, are there to remind me of the life I’ve lived and the people I’ve loved. I want people to know that I’m 76. I don’t want them to exclaim, “How young you look!” I want them to notice the lines and see that I’m still living my life to the fullest. I want my history reflected in my face. Grow old with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made: Our times are in his hand Who sayeth "a whole I plant, Youth shows but half; Trust God; see all nor be afraid." Robert Browning

Spiritual Mentors

From the left: Fr. White, Me, Karen, Al, Betty, Laurie and Eleanor at the Healing Prayer Group Christmas 1989, Thelma took the picture!

On the last day of March I stepped into an old role for me, assisting my former priest the Rev. Kenneth Gordon White at the funeral of our friend Thelma Hoyle. She and her husband Al retired and moved to Alpine, TX to be near other members of their family. Al brought Thelma back to be buried in a family plot in Lowell, MA. I was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Lowell, MA from 1980 until 2001, when I left to be The Rev. Karen Ann Campbell's secretary at Church of the Good Shepherd in Fitchburg, MA.

Karen had served an internship at St. John's when she was a student at the Episcopal Divinity School and I was part of her supervisory committee! We had a wonderful Lenten Program that year in which Al and Thelma and myself played a part in Narnia! Everyone loved her and when she left I joined a Women's Group she was leading at St. Mark's in Westford. She was ordained to the Diaconate in Vermont June 8, 2000 and I was one of her proud presenters. She was hired by the Church of the Good Shepherd September 11, 2000 and in the Fall of 2003 she was ordained as a priest. I was very honored that Karen asked me to deliver the sermon on that day.

Thelma was a wonderful spiritual mentor to me. I attended the weekly Healing Prayer Group that she and Al sponsored and I followed in her footsteps as a Lay Reader. When they left for Texas I became the hostess of the Prayer Group. And Karen became a spiritual mentor to me and has remained a good friend. She was also the best "boss" I have ever had! Both women were exceptional role models and I was blessed to have them both as friends. I have said good-bye to Thelma and I will be saying farewell to Karen soon as she will be pursuing her calling and serving the priesthood in another state. My life has been greatly enriched by knowing them both.

"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that lovelth is born of God, and knoweth God." I John:4:7