Many years ago, I knew a woman I’ll call Lorraine who saw herself as generous. She and her husband often took the pastor and spouse out to dinners they would not have been able to afford. She brought small wrapped gifts to the women’s group—one for each person. She helped her widowed mother and sister with things for their home. In the congregation, people assumed Lorraine and her husband were among the church’s most generous supporters.
Endings My final semester of college was filled with celebrations, heartfelt goodbyes, and reflection. During my last weeks at school, my fraternity held a candle-pass..
There is a particular kind of transition that doesn’t get talked about enough.
Aging in place is more than a preference—it is a deeply held desire to remain connected to community, purpose and identity. For older adults and the families who support..
From birth to death, aging is a lifelong process of change. In our earliest years, those changes are often visible and celebrated. We grow “up,” acquiring new physical..
Some transitions arrive slowly, giving us time to prepare. Others hit unexpectedly, knocking us off balance and forcing us to decide: will we cling to fear, or step..
Just as life and people are multifaceted, so is belonging. We are all a part of many social groups and as we age and move through different stages of life, new jobs,..
My husband John and I had just landed at Hopkins airport in Cleveland from a 2 ½ week trip to Florida, and as we blearily got off the plane and stumbled toward baggage,..
Transitions are a natural part of life. We plan for many of them with excitement—welcoming a new baby, preparing for school, building a career, and looking ahead to..
