T.S. Eliot, in part of a poem directed to second half life travelers, captivates us with an image of exploration. "Old people ought to be explorers. Here or there does not matter. We must be still, and still moving, into another intensity, for a further union, a deeper communion." This blog is dedicated to our 2HC's 2022-2023 Cohort who for ten months explored together a sustainable spirituality for the second half of life. To honor the participants, our six 2HC facilitators share the blessings they received from the Cohort and in turn speak a blessing over them.

“I sensed danger as my communion with the Lord failed to reach the depth I once knew,” so begins Joe, this blog’s author. It was enough to compel him to go on a retreat where he could prayerfully reflect on this. In a paradigm-shifting conversation over lunch with the retreat host, Joe heard the Lord’s invitation, “What if every day is just another opportunity to be with me?” Here is his story.

Elaine continues the theme of life and faith growth over a lifetime which she wrote for 2HC in her previous blog, In A Single Breath. In this portion of her blog, she focuses on the stage known as The Wall. Elaine’s journey at the Wall is unique to her, as it will be for others. Nevertheless, many describe their wall time with similar themes: a period of disorientation, uncertainty, confusion, as well as a deep and growing thirst for God.

In this blog and the next, Elaine T, a 2HC participant, picks up one of our 2HC themes — how faith develops over a life time. She enriches concepts we looked at from the book The Critical Journey with the writings of Richard Rohr in his book Falling Upwards: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. Elaine weaves in her story of a profound loss that shifted her faith at a very young age.

In the next blog (Part 2), Elaine, with powerful prose and poetic language, will describe her experiences at The Wall.

Our current month’s theme in 2HC is seasons of life and grieving losses. The following lament represents a synthesis of many voices of those who, for various reasons, return to their passport countries after years of cross-cultural service. It captures what many feel emotionally when treasured community, once centered around an exciting cause, can no longer exist without that cause. The loss is real, as is the longing for a community where unconditional love is nurtured and supported. The author here expresses what all laments contain: pain, anger, and hope.

When my wife and I moved overseas, we were honored with a commissioning service. It was the culminating seal on a season of anticipation, excitement and expressions of commitment. But in 2016, after returning to the United States, we had no similar formal event at first. We sensed something was missing, some communal event to welcome us back and safely launch us into a new season.

The “2nd Half Collaborative” (2HC) invites experienced mission workers to an intentional 10-month journey of greater spiritual depth, safe sharing and friendship. Listen in as two 2HC “learner-disciple” participants talk about making spiritual formation the lifelong nurturing paradigm for growth and fruitfulness.