Any reflection on work with Third Agers (those 60 and older) must begin by remembering their humanity. Third Agers are not aliens or cyborgs. They are human beings and so share the needs of all human beings.
The Need for Community
It is not good for human beings to be alone. The destructive effects of loneliness have never being clearer because of the lonely generation we live in. All of us at any age need friends and other significant others in our lives to thrive. Ditto Third Agers. But there are special challenges to Third Agers finding community.
Some live alone and may no longer have the health and energy to be mobile enough to go out and meet with people. And we are at the age when many of our peers have begun to pass on. Struggles with Parkinson’s and dementia make it difficult to connect. Or we may have little choice over where we live and may end up living in places far away from family and friends. Connecting through social media was never ideal and may be more difficult for some more than others.
How then do we help Third Agers find the life-giving community they need?
The Need for Purpose
I have a good friend who had retired from his work. He was financially ok. He said, “I spend most of my days doing what I like; specifically swimming and cycling”. He could now do these things every day. He said it was fun for a while. But now he is bored to death. His mind and body are still sharp, but he no longer has work to do. And while I complain that I have too much work to do, my friend’s lament reminded me that all humans, and that includes Third Agers of course, need to apply themselves to purposeful activity.
The fact is many of us will live longer and be relatively healthy. While our energies may not be the same as when we were younger many of us can still contribute significantly to others. We need to differentiate between work and paid employment. While we may perhaps be working part time in some paid capacity, many of us now can volunteer to serve in the many areas of need in society.
Maybe we should not be focused on what we cannot do because of our age and focus on what we can do, and do it for the Lord and for others. It goes without saying that churches have all sorts of needs that could do with the help of Third Agers. (Some churches may need to be convinced of this, though.)
I conduct workshops on vocational discernment. I do this for young adults as they reflect on what they are to give their lives to. I would love to do these workshops for Third Agers to help them discover/rediscover where they are to serve at this chapter of their lives.
How do we help Third Agers discover and embrace a purpose that gives life?
In the next eComm we will look at three more dimensions of life that all of us, including Third Agers, need in order to be fully alive.