Pilgrims in a Strange Land: Aging, Pilgrims in a Strange Land: Aging, Illness and PersonhoodIllness and Personhood The spiritual journey in later life: The spiritual journey in later life: A unique model of spiritual tasks A unique model of spiritual tasks and process of ageingand process of ageing

Rev Prof Elizabeth MacKinlay AM PhD, RNCentre for Ageing and Pastoral StudiesSchool of Theology, Charles Sturt Universitywww.centreforageing.org.au

Ways of looking at ageing: How Ways of looking at ageing: How old is old?old is old?

Chronological ageing?The third age of life?The fourth age of life?

Attitudes to ageingAttitudes to ageing

How do I see myself in later life?

Do I look forward to being older

What does retirement mean? Is this a word that has passed its usefulness?

What value do I put on being an older person?

How we look at ageing: How we look at ageing: Does it make a Does it make a difference?difference?

Later life: Age of decline (focus on ageing body)?

Successful ageing? Spiritual journey?

To what extent can we choose our ageing journey?

Ageing and decline?Ageing and decline?

What do we expect of our ageing?Physical decrements, more aches

and pains, decreased energy?Living with more chronic illnesses?Losses of loved onesMoving to assisted living or a

nursing home?Fear of becoming dependent?

Ageing and growth?Ageing and growth?Does that seem to be possible?• Psychosocial development: Erikson-

integrity versus despair.• Spiritual development: finding meaning

in later life, transcending losses and disabilities. Growing closer to God

Ageing is the time when it all (potentially) comes together.

How do we find meaning and wholeness in the face of increasing losses and frailty-and even dementia?

Spirituality:Spirituality: A DefinitionA Definition

That which lies at the core of each person's being, an essential dimension which brings meaning to

life.

Constituted not only by religious practices, but understood more broadly, as relationship with

God, however God or ultimate meaning is perceived by the person, and in relationship with

other people. (MacKinlay, 2001)

S P I R I TU A L I T Y-Ultimate Meaning

Mediated throughReligion:WorshipPrayer

Reading of ScriptureMeditation

Relationship:Intimacy with

othersand/or God

Creation / Environment:

Nature, sea, mountains, gardens, work,

human imagination

The arts:Music,

art, poetry, drama, dance

Spirituality and Religion

Spirituality in Ageing: Spirituality in Ageing: ThemesThemes

Response to Ultimate Response to Ultimate MeaningMeaning

Ultimate Meaning in LifeUltimate Meaning in Life

self sufficiency/self sufficiency/vulnerabilityvulnerability

Wisdom / Wisdom / provisional toprovisional tofinal meaningsfinal meanings

relationship/relationship/isolationisolation hope/fearhope/fear

MacKinlay 1998

Spiritual Tasks & Process of Spiritual Tasks & Process of Ageing: A continuing processAgeing: A continuing process

Response to Ultimate Response to Ultimate MeaningMeaningUltimate Meaning in LifeUltimate Meaning in Life

Transcend loss/Transcend loss/disabilitiesdisabilities

To find final To find final meaningsmeanings

Find intimacy with Find intimacy with God and/or othersGod and/or others To find hopeTo find hope

MacKinlay 1998

Spiritual Tasks of Ageing for Spiritual Tasks of Ageing for Christians:Christians:A Continuing ProcessA Continuing Process

Response to Ultimate Response to Ultimate Meaning:Meaning:

Spiritual strategiesSpiritual strategiesUltimate Meaning in Life:Ultimate Meaning in Life:Life Centred in GodLife Centred in God

Dying to selfDying to self(self-transcendence)(self-transcendence)

God’s story+my storyGod’s story+my story(Growing in wisdom & (Growing in wisdom &

final meanings)final meanings)

Growing into Growing into ChristChrist

(Intimacy with God)(Intimacy with God)

HopeHopenow & futurenow & future(MacKinlay 2006)

Spiritual strategies: including Spiritual strategies: including worship, prayer, study, worship, prayer, study,

meditationmeditation

Growing Old in ChristGrowing Old in Christ

Struggles and joys, Flourishing and fruitfulIntimacy with God and or others

Being and becoming