From "Age-ing to Sage-ing"

Perhaps you’ve heard of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z’’l, who was instrumental in starting the Jewish renewal movement.  He coined a phrase, “from age-ing to sage-ing.” His advice to us seniors is that we should “grow into old age rather than be arrested by it.”  Such conscious aging actually allows us to open the door to spiritual eldering.  Although much of society would want us to believe otherwise, we senior citizens are truly a source of wisdom and inspiration because of our many and varied experiences in life.  We all change physically, but our essence, our neshama, remains intact, although our energy levels may have started to wane.

What kind of elders do we want to be?  Perhaps we’ve consciously thought about this, and perhaps not.  It’s true, I believe, that as we age we have all faced pain and frustration, but we have also faced incredible joys and love.  We have learned how precious time is and we have learned to see ourselves as a link in the chain of generations past and future. 

As we spend this Erev Shabbat together, may we be inspired to use all of our days in ways that express our sense of wonder and delight in the knowledge that our lives are meaningful and valued.  May we learn to regard our existence as sacred and make every day count.

Shabbat Shalom.