Delusions about Age

We live currently in a society in which we have started writing people 55 and up off. Somehow we live under the delusion that young, and young looking is better than the other. How we got there would probably be a book. But I rather want to focus on what will be needed to change this trend so that the older population who is obviously suffering from this development will find justice and acceptance.

How does this trend show itself?


a) Many companies are letting people go just a couple of years before retirement,
    and there is no legal protection in place

b) In the difficulties in which people over 55 have finding a new job

c) We encourage and sometimes urge people over 60 to start living in
    assistant living places, and if they have health problems we put them in nursing
    homes.

d) Every day we find advertisements on TV for certain drugs and the brain washing that
    at a certain age people have to expect certain health problems.
    (What we expect we manifest!)

e) Some people of 60 and up are sometimes so brain washed and conditioned they
    check themselves into assistant living places.

f) Ageism: we think wrinkles, grey hair and chronological age makes someone "old".
  They start receiving AARP cards with age 50.

g) Ushers in churches will lead anyone with grey hair to the 80 year olds Bible study group

i) We find insights and wisdom a nuisance and interference (often a sign of corruption)

j) We are under the impression that people have to retire at a certain age.
   (Some people at age 90 still climb mountains, run a business or ride camels.)


There is a lot we have to revamp if we want justice for the older generation:


a) There need to be more and better work opportunities for people 50 and up.

b) Put laws in place so that companies cannot fire or lay people off in the last 3 years before retirement.

c) Create incentives for families to take care of their parents at home.

d) Support people of 50 and up in starting their own businesses.

e) Offer re-education so that this age group can make exciting life and job/business changes and stay active.

f) Give the opportunity to make healthy choices, outlaw healthcare monopoly.

g) Nursing home reform - they are ghastly places!

h) Outlaw chemical restraints in nursing homes.

i)  More oversight for nursing home administrators, their medical directors and D.O.N's.



In order to help the older population there needs to be a societal shift.

We train people from childhood on to become stable, to know what they want and to aim for one job or career. Anyone who jumps between jobs is suspect. We like people who are faithful and don't change much- just enough to accommodate company changes.

However, as a result that societal training and outlook will eventually gel into rigidity by an older age. If a person is rigid, however, we condemn them later for it and their unwillingness to try and learn new things. Well, we told them all their lives that its honorable to know what you want and  to stick with one job or career.  What else can we expect?

The internet has brought some change to that outlook. As society is changing, we must help the older population in their learning of new things and embrace change - so that they have a chance. Currently, there is to much wisdom potential wasted.
 One is only as old as one feels, no matter if wrinkles or grey hair grace one's face.
If one has a dream, one never grows old.
 Sometimes people forty or even younger who suffer from depression or despair have grown old.
Being old is relative and is more of an attitude.
 It has little to do with chronological age.

We must rethink on how we see the older population! 

Daycare – the Churche's mission?

The other day I was reminded that a church cannot minister to the homeless and those who look rough to us  because of a daycare on the churche's property. The parents fear the homeless and having been a mother myself I took long and being careful to expose my children to the less fortunate. They can be scary to a small child.

Yet, there is another thought. Did Jesus ask us to create day-cares? Did Jesus ask us to minister to the orphans, the poor and less fortunate? We are told in the Bible to teach our children. That, however, does not translate into daycare for me. Most church day-cares are extra income. In most cases they do not add much to the count of the congregation and are pretty much a separate entity. Now, the children may hear more Bible stories. Rarely, or only a few of these parents go to the church services from what I have been told. (This may not be true for all denominations)

If our impact is so minimal, is having a daycare really what a church should be aiming for?

Should we rather aim to serve the less fortunate – those who have no one and are struggling fiercely? Isn't that what Jesus did – he, a rabbi, hung out with the less fortunate and the worst of sinners? (Not that the poor are the worst sinners- they may be our saints). I believe we could teach the parents and children by ministering to the less fortunate in a controlled church setting more than we can through a daycare. The church could set an example to her people on how to respond to the less fortunate not by giving in to societal demands the parents will of course bring with them, but by teaching parents and members a compassionate response in spite of society's norm and demands.

In this case the children wouldn't only hear Bible stories – they would get to act them out.

Children would also learn to face their fears with the support of the whole church.

And the financial side? If we use daycare as a side business, I am sure there are other side-businesses we can engage in which minister at the same time. I could imagine things like an adult-daycare, regular flea markets, if the church has land, renting out small garden plots so city people can grow food, renting the facility to small start-up-churches....the possibilities are limitless as long as the congregation is creative and not stuck in a rut.