The Joy of Being a Late Bloomer: Becoming My Created Self in the 2nd Half of Life

Written by Grace Kim, 2HC Spiritual Director

In the second half of life we can experience greater freedom to flow in the grace of God that is our life.

We don’t have to become calcified or to “settle" but can more fully allow ourselves to do what we already are. To experience such conversion, we need to continue paying attention to our interior movements and remain open to God’s presence and invitations in our lives. 

We will need a vital community with whom we can be authentic and who will receive our genuine struggles and questions. They are the ones who will bring us to Jesus (Mark 2:1-12). 

We will need to continue to nurture and tend to the fresh shoots and signs of metamorphosis that are taking place in us. This is a part of our continuing spiritual journey, as well as our human journey of maturing into lives lived authentically as who we already are.

I am a late bloomer. 

I always knew that I found soul nourishment in deep conversations. I knew that the times I felt “in sync” with God was when I sat with others and listened to the stories of their journeys with God. It was not until my mid 50s, however, that I discovered my vocational calling of spiritual direction. I finally was allowing myself to do what I already am.

That word “allowing” seems deceptively simple. However, at times, the “allowing” requires faith and courage. As a 50-something year-old mother raising four children, both were required of me to apply to a school of spiritual direction of my choice. When I began doing the research, I was drawn to one particular school—Center Quest School of Spiritual Direction. I was fairly certain this was the path toward which God was leading me.

However, in my mind the cost was prohibitive. As a missionary raising a family, I was accustomed to cutting corners and living the simple life.

Could I really justify spending thousands of dollars on a training to “invest in myself?”

As I sat with my feeling of powerlessness, God brought up a memory.

When I was in 5th grade, I wanted to join the Girl Scouts. I observed the girls in Mr. Garvey’s 5th grade class coming to school in their Girl Scout uniforms and wanted to be a part of that. When a sign-up sheet was passed around, I put my name on it. My friends were excited to have me join their ranks. However, as I thought about it more, I quickly realized that my parents could neither afford the time nor the money required of them to support me doing this extracurricular activity. We were an immigrant family, and I was a latch-key child. Both of my parents worked to provide for us three kids. I never even brought it up to my mom or dad or talked to any adult about it. I simply buried it in my heart.  

God began to speak to me about that memory. Remember when you needed someone bigger than you and wiser than you? You wanted someone to recognize your desire and help you fulfill it, but no one seemed to be available to you. But now, you can talk to me, Grace. I am bigger and wiser than you. Climb onto my lap and talk to me about your desire for Center Quest.

That is exactly what I did. I shared my desire with God and then shared my desire with my loving husband too. He said, “I will help you raise the money for Center Quest.” It was a story of favor and provision, and the money quickly came in from those who recognized my giftings and wanted to invest in me. 

We may think that the second half of life is when we should ride quietly into the sunset. The most active years of our lives are behind us, and we now settle down and settle in. However, our human and spiritual journey continues well into our second half. We continue to mature and shed the layers that are not a part of our true selves. 

For me, the discovery of spiritual direction and the faith journey that launched me into this ministry were life-changing. 

All at the ripe old age of 54. 

I believe that 2HC, like its logo of a chrysalis undergoing transformation, is an opportunity to truly uncover the true self, the true vocation that may yet be waiting to be uncovered and nurtured.

Or perhaps God is wanting to give you fresh vision for how to live more authentically into who you already are.

May I encourage you that you are on a good path! Although the path is at times rocky and not easy, the authentic life you uncover will be filled with greater joy, vitality, and strength.

Blessings on the journey!