Tag: lifelong learning

Be Wise

Dr. Mary Manz Simon,
ALOA Board of Directors

Old people are wise. Those who live a long time have understanding. (NIRV)

I often turn to children’s Bibles for clear-cut translations of Scripture. The verse quoted above, Job 12:12, is an example.

Many versions frame the content in the form of two questions. I like to read this verse in declarative sentences. I need to be reminded that “old people are wise,” especially when I can’t figure out how to work our new Smart TV.

Gray hair gives us societal permission to offer feedback upon request. After all, we’ve lived a long time. But often, that same gray hair frames our words with unwanted authority; we become judgmental instead of helpful.

How can we give effective and helpful feedback?

  • View the request as an invitation to help. The tone says, “We can solve this together.” Often, collaborative connections result in solutions worth trying. A sense of ownership shapes the dynamic to work as a team.
  • Draw from your “experience bank.” Offer practical, realistic examples or observations. When people ask for advice, they usually aren’t looking for our personal history. They want ideas that work. You’ve solved problems and resolved situations. How did you do it?
  • Be honest. Did your solution work? Were there unexpected outcomes? What was the short-term impact? long-term result? Listen carefully if someone wonders aloud, “How will this work?” You might be able to offer additional observations that will make your feedback even more valuable.
  • Don’t avoid admitting, “I don’t know.” We might be wise, but we are still lifelong learners. Regardless of age, truly wise people are always eager to grow.

Check out this video to hear how our EQ increases as we age, equipping us to help those younger generations. 

EQ_play video

Take a look at previous posts for more inspiration for older adult ministry.

Learning Every Day

Dr. Mary Manz Simon,
ALOA Board of Directors

What did you learn from the pandemic?

Living through the years when COVID-19 swept our planet changed us. Even if we aren’t living with the effects of long COVID, our mindscape is different now.

Although we no longer focus on the months when life left us behind, we did more than age during the pandemic. We changed.

  • Does getting out take more effort now? When the virus floated freely, without any hope of a vaccine, many of us learned to be happy staying home. Loading the dishwasher became less important; the sofa became more comfortable. Some of those habits are still entrenched.
  • Did you discover joy in God’s creation? Some people came upon such wondrous spaces, they still savor the stillness when surrounded by nature. Perhaps you now spend regular time outdoors.
  • Are you more compassionate post-COVID or do you roll your eyes when seeing someone (still) wearing an N95? News media alerted us to entire demographics we rarely noticed: the immunocompromised; organ transplant patients; those with mental health issues.
  • Do keystroke errors still send you into a panic? Perhaps you became so digitally savvy while using Zoom and FaceTime, you know the computer won’t explode if you hit the wrong key!

Educators talk about the need to be lifelong learners. This is true especially as we age, for new challenges continually emerge. For older adults, the learning curve goes up in unexpected ways and at inopportune times. This happens even without a global pandemic.

During recent years, we celebrated the holidays alone. The rapidly approaching holiday season offers an opportunity to consider what the pandemic taught us …. celebrate our blessings and recognize how much we still have to learn.

Check out this video to find out how to reap the benefits when we stay open to learning! 

Take a look at previous posts for more inspiration for older adult ministry.