Faith Formation Across the (?) Lifespan (?)
I heard a true story today of a person entering into The Third Age (over 50). This person lays flat all day and needs assistance to roll over, eat, toilet….actually needs assistance for everything. This person can only communicate with grunts and noises with an occassional expression of the eyes or a small movement of the hand. As I heard the story I also heard how someone who cared, came into this person’s life, offered conversation, offered recognition and then offered prayer. The person who laid there found ways to communicate deep appreciation.
We need to define lifespan; thus the “?” marks. If it is right up until the moment of death, which I believe it is, we need to rethink our approach and our understanding. When I think of the person who lies there or the person in the last moments of life on this earth, it makes me wonder about how we do faith nurture. How does one support and nurture the faith of the one who lays there? The Holy Spirit is present, and, yet, the person cannot respond. How do we help this individual in their faith journey? How do we help this person find comfort in the God who is present? How do we help this person pray and worship? When we talk faith formation across the lifespan, how do we apply that concept in this situation?
My fear is that maybe we don’t do any of these things because we think that this person is done with life….and, yet, the person is breathing and interacting with the environment, even if only with the eyes. I hope that someone in this person’s life reads the Scriptures with them and prays with them and talks with them and sings hymns with them. I hope we don’t give up. I hope and pray that we validate this person’s life and recognize the dignity of creation. I hope and pray that we celebrate the human connection and then allow the Holy Spirit to seal the spiritual connection.
It makes me wonder how congregations serve this person. Wouldn’t it be great if individuals helped out families and someone would read books………read Scripture……..read the newspaper……….pray…….laugh……watch TV….and help this person remain in the mainstream of life? Wouldn’t that be a wonderful ministry. Wouldn’t it be great if someone gave this person a hand massage or a foot massage in the style of Jesus?
What ministries do you see in operation for this person? How do we help recruit and equip people for ministry to this type of person? This person is still a part of the family of God……..I would love to hear how you see that being a lived reality.
Steve,
I know that this is not necessarily what you are asking for in response, but I just wanted to let you know the first thing that popped into my head when I read this post. Romans 8:26 - “but the Spirit intercedes for us in groans that words cannot express.” What a joyful experience to listen to the grunts and groans that this person makes as he lies there, knowing that the Holy Spirit is at work within him!
Absolutely! The ministry of the Word and the human presence and touch bring powerful connection.
Hi Steve,
I find it truly amazing that you have articulated, so clearly, some of the thoughts that have bouncing around in my head for about a year now. Thanks be to God for your keen insight and also for your wonderful gifts of formulating intriguing thoughts and communicating them so clearly through the written word.
How much do we, as a society, underestimate the value of human dignity and life?…Spiritual Life?…Wouldn’t it be great if we would truly serve others throughout their entire life…starting right at the beginning-from their mother’s womb right up until their final breath?
1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
2 Corinthians 9:13
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
One of the struggles that I had when I started here at Walcamp was the ministry that we have through Handicamp. I know that is totally politically incorrect, but it is something that has been passed down to me.
At first I wondered how effective this ministry really is, if the campers that join us get anything out of what we do or say. Is there any benefit to them? I would venture to guess that the people doing this minsitry would give a resounding “Yes!” I am reminded that there is never a promise that we will see growth in any individual because of our ministry. We may not know the result, but that is not our responsibility. God causes the growth. We may not be aware fo the effect on the individual. That can’t be ours to judge, just to do what we do is enough.
I thank God that there is an organization out there called Voice of Care. Pastor Don Kretchmer and his staff work side by side with our staff to put together the best experience we can for the campers. On a regular basis Don and his staff lead members of group homes and individuals in activities to help them grow spiritually.
By the way. Sometimes I feel the same futility when I teach confirmation or adult Bible Class. I wonder if I am really getting through to the inteded audience. Of course, I am half joking about this.
One of the things that I am trying to learn and to do is to just “be” with people, regardless of their condition. This emptying of self, as I understand it, allows my gifts to be used but it is no longer I who serves it is Christ who serves in me. Sometimes I am not even sure it is about growth. It is just about being together in the presence of God.