Over the course of each year’s cohort journey, our 2HC team sponsors a number of informal virtual “2HC Cafe” gatherings. We choose various discussion topics that are near to the heart of cross-cultural mission workers wrestling with “2nd half of life” questions and concerns. Among these concerns is the express need for vibrant, safe, and supportive friendships. In January of 2024, two 2HC facilitators shared about their spiritual friendship groups. They talked about what these friendships with other men have meant for them, giving practical suggestions as well for starting and maintaining spiritual friendship groups. We have highlighted below some of what they shared.

The following thoughts, written by Alan Fadling, Director of “Unhurried Living,” come from a journal entry of about 16 years ago when he was experiencing a deep and dark night of faith.

This is an autobiographical parable of sorts, encapsulating several of our 2HC themes thus far: identity, noticing, unhurrying, cycle of grace, rest.

In this blog the author uses his photos and art work of doors to illustrate transition and threshold spaces between the first and second half of life.

JD, a 2HC participant writes, “Today was a reminder of a principle that I have been learning and reviewing in a cohort I am involved in this year. The principle is this; we must SLOW DOWN to hear the voice of God. Far too often, we do not hear His voice because we are not listening. We don’t have time to hear or feel or consider. We are moving far too fast. We are too preoccupied.”

Grace Kim, a Spiritual Director for 2HC, recounts a recent struggle to invest in a training that would enable her to gain skills to become who she was created to be. This is her story — and God’s story — of what happened when she did.

Welcome to our new 2HC cohort for 2023-24 and to all our readers. We invite you to listen to the voice of the Spirit as you read.

David S, a recent participant of 2HC, in this creatively warm and candid blog, shares the ways pipe smoking is a lens through which he sees his second half of life.

In this blog Nathan Burke describes a scene from the movie The Hobbit that resonated with the way he experienced his time in 2HC.

For centuries, Psalm 84, the Prayer of the Pilgrim, has moved many to undertake pilgrimage as a spiritual formation practice. Carol Weaver, a 2HC Facilitator and Spiritual Director, shares the story of her recent pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, Spain. Weaving phrases from Psalm 84 with photos, poems, stories and lessons learned from various Stations of our 2nd Half Collaborative, Carol tenderly recounts how this pilgrimage helped heal a heart wound she received 40 years earlier in Santiago, Spain.

How can we bring an orientation toward 2nd half of life flourishing into many more places and spaces of mission? More specifically, in what ways can we help our families, teams, and mission organizations be places that encourage and support global workers who are uncovering typical 2nd half of life challenges and opportunities? How can we keep the green “walk sign” on so that they keep walking with us and us with them?