'Ageing With Grace – considering what old age is for?

St Columba's House, Woking

Earlier this month saw the latest of a series of quiet days being held around the country entitled ‘Ageing With Grace – what is old age for?’.  This one was held in the comfortable surroundings of St Columba’s House in Woking, Surrey, with participants coming from a wide area. 

These quiet days are ably led by Katherine Froggatt and her husband Hugh Kidd. Katherine is a Local Coordinator for Anna Chaplaincy in Blackburn Diocese and has extensive expertise in the areas of ageing and palliative care.

The day started with the opportunity to choose pictures which might represent what we view as positive and negative about our ageing. 

I was struck, as we continued the day, by the lines from the poem ‘The Bright Field’ by R.S. Thomas:

“Life is not hurrying

On to a receding future, nor hankering after

An imagined past.  It is the turning

Aside like Moses to the miracle

Of the lit bush, to a brightness

That seemed as transitory as your youth

Once, but is the eternity that awaits you.”

We were encouraged to consider what might help us, as we age, to step aside to see the burning bush. There was an opportunity to consider and try different spiritual practices which might assist. We also considered some tasks of older age: self completion and relinquishment; the recognition of loss, lamenting and saying goodbye; and ‘learning to undergo’.

The day was an excellent balance of input and space for personal reflection and concluded with time to gather up thoights of the day the day, together, in the chapel.

Further quiet days around the country are planned – watch out for one coming to your area!

Marian Muskett

www.stcolumbashouse.org.uk

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