Spiritual Resiliency and Aging ─ Hope, Relationality, and the Creative Self

Spiritual Resiliency and Aging offers a corrective to anxious, dichotomized visions of aging that either deny the realities of growing old (leading to exclusion, patronization, and labeling) or present unrealistic views of aging (leading to romanticizing of older persons and their lives). It demonstrates how narrative theory can increase an appreciation for implicit themes, roles, and tones in the stories of resilient older adults. And it demonstrates how denominationally specific research and theologically informed analysis can increase gerontologists' understanding of older adults' spiritual resources. The book contributes to theorizing a positive psychology of aging by highlighting the importance of spirituality as a core resource in the lives of older adults, and contributes to the area of religion and aging by focusing on specific aspects of spiritual resiliency not previously explored. Realizing that contemporary society is highly individualistic and frequently ageist, Ramsey and Blieszner theorize on direct quotations from the life stories of strong, courageous elders (in the United States and Germany) who are deeply anchored in their communities and not only have coped well with aging but have transcended the numerous losses in their lives. Through the use of narrative theory as their primary conceptual lens, and aided by a variety of developmental theories, the authors explore the dynamic intersection of gerontology and spirituality within the meta-narrative of one particular religious tradition, Lutheranism. Acknowledging the necessary tension, in the human experience of aging, of hope versus reality, interconnected personhood versus self-differentiation, and creative change versus stability, the authors use these polarities to structure their exploration of themes in resiliency. Chapter topics include personal and communal emotions, forgiveness, the creative self, spiritual practices, hope and gratitude, rediscovering vocations, and the practice of critiquing self and community. Two chapters are in-depth case studies. Each chapter concludes with specific suggestions for scholars, educators, and practitioners.

About the Authors The Rev. Dr. Janet L. Ramsey is the Pastor George Weinman Chair of Pastoral Theology and Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has an M.A. from Yale Divinity, M.Div. from Lutheran Theological School at Philadelphia, and Ph.D. in Adult Development and Aging from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where she also received a certificate in gerontology. Her past vocational experiences have included parish ministry, nursing home chaplaincy and administration, and full-time pastoral counseling and supervision. She currently teaches courses in aging, forgiveness and healing, and pastoral care at Luther Seminary, and continues a small clinical practice as a marriage and family therapist. A well-known speaker on religion and aging as well as on forgiveness and healing, Ramsey has written numerous book chapters and articles and is lead author of Spiritual Resiliency in Older Women: Models of Strength for Challenges through the Life Span (Sage, 1999). She is currently writing a book with theologian and colleague Lois Malcolm, Discerning Forgiveness. Ramsey is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. Rosemary Blieszner, Alumni Distinguished Professor, is professor of gerontology and family studies in the Department of Human Development, Associate Director of the Center for Gerontology, and Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg. She received a Ph.D. in Human Development-Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University, with a major concentration in adult development and aging and a minor in sociology/social psychology. Her research focuses on family and friend relationships, life events, and psychological well-being in adulthood and old age. She is coauthor of Adult Friendship (Sage, 1992) and Spiritual Resiliency in Older Women: Models of Strength for Challenges through the Life Span (Sage, 1999); coeditor of Older Adult Friendship: Structure and Process (Sage, 1989), Handbook of Aging and the Family (Greenwood Press, 1995), and Handbook of Families and Aging, 2nd ed. (Praeger, 2011); and author of numerous articles published in gerontology, family studies, psychology, sociology, and personal relationships journals. Blieszner is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 20), Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Gerontological Society of America, and National Council on Family Relations. In 1997-98 she received the university's Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence, in 2000 she received the Alumni Recognition Award from the College of Health and Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University, and in 2002 she was named Alumni Distinguished Professor, a position held by ten faculty members at the university.