February Week 3: Spiritual Aging Study Guide

Forgiveness in Our Challenging Times

Welcome to this week’s study guide. When I wrote the reflection in Spiritual Aging upon which this study guide is based, I did not know how pertinent this particular subject would be at this particular point of time—nor how sobering. I look forward to participating in the discussion following.

Fiercely Yours,

Carol Orsborn

This Week’s Excerpt

When you are fully alive, there is no end to experiencing the vastness of the human potential: not just the pretty colors on the rosier end of the spectrum we would prefer but the darker hues that our younger eyes were not able to perceive. Growing old expands your capacity to see more and see deeper. You come to realize that coupled with this expansion of consciousness is the inability to block anything. You feel it all. And then, at last, life makes sense.

And what is it you now know? That regardless of your circumstances, you’re beloved. You’re cared for. You’re authentic. You’re flawed. You’re forgiven. You’re grateful. There’s nothing to be done but to surrender to the whole mess of it and feel the bittersweet gift of your life come what may.

—Third Week of February, Spiritual Aging: Weekly Reflections for Embracing Life