LPN Newsletter - Winter 2010
FEATURED ARTICLE - Knowledge & Expertise from LPN
ContemplAgeing: 
Spirituality and Fulfillment Throughout Life
By Robert L. Weber, Ph.D.
LPN New England
Editor's Note: Currently and recently, Bob Weber has conducted, organized,
developed and led an ongoing, ecumenical psycho-spiritual issues group in Cambridge,
a four-session retreat-workshop on aging for a large retirement community of religious women,
a ContemplAgeing day of reflection on aging for a local church, and a five-session series on Aging in Judaism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.
During the forty plus years since college graduation, (yes, I am a first year baby boomer) I have had several careers. My first career was that of a teacher in the Brookline public school system followed by ten years as a member of the Jesuit order and finally as a clinical psychologist.
My religious tradition and spiritual development remained the anchors of my life as I built a career as a clinical psychologist but these dimensions were lived quietly and out of sight until recently when I decided to offer an ecumenical, psycho-spiritual issues group, drawing on my Jesuit experience as a chaplain and spiritual director. It was out of this experience that "ContemplAgeing" emerged.
My own aging certainly played a major part in this evolution. But it was an article by my colleague, Jane Marie Thibault, "Aging as a Natural Monastery," that galvanized my thoughts, feelings, and actions and led to the idea of "ContemplAgeing." I guess it was also the old holy longing that Thomas Merton had awakened in me in profound ways some forty plus years ago. It is out of my own life, experience and aging that "ContemplAgeing" derives its meaningfulness and purpose.
What is ContemplAgeing?
- A word I coined to describe the entrance into the "sacred space" of the unique circumstances of our own aging in a contemplative way
- A process and practice that increases our attention to the spiritual and the sacred that is the ground of our whole life
- A way that enhances our spiritual development, deepens our spiritual life, and expands the fullness of life we are living as we age
How does it work?
ContemplAgeing can work in our own life by helping us to wrestle with the some difficult personal questions. As we notice changes in our physical health, we ask "What is to come?" As we are nearing the end of our career, "Who am I, really?" and "What next?" With the loss of family, friends, and peers, "Are my priorities changing?"
As well, ContemplAgeing can help us answer other important questions. As our responsibilities and demands subside, "Am I experiencing greater freedom to live?" Thanks to the wisdom of our lived experience, "Am I looking forward to creating a new life?" "Are the questions of life's meaning and purpose becoming more important to me?"
What will we gain?
ContemplAgeing is a practice that enables us to explore the realities of our aging and their impact on our life and examine the hard questions that these realities evoke. We may discover and envision opportunities for spiritual growth through instruction, spiritual practice and direction.
To enhance the psycho-spiritual growth of individuals, Bob's practice now includes ecumenical, psycho-spiritual issues groups, workshops, days of reflection, and retreats, as well as, on-site presentations designed to address and integrate aging and spirituality.
Robert Weber is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry,
Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital; Committee Member,
Psycho-Spirituality Initiative, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP); Governor's Council,
Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging (FoRSA); American Society on Aging (ASA).
robert_weber@hms.harvard.edu, www.ContemplAgeing.com
bob@ContemplAgeing.com, www.contemplageingblog.com