At various times in our lives, we find ourselves, personally or communally, hitting a wall or falling off a cliff. In some ways, life seems to throw catastrophic imperatives at us. Then we have choices, and perhaps those are our greatest teachers. The values we live by give us the guardrails to recovery – not only to survive, but often to thrive. The ability to recover is one of the strongest signs of healthy aging.

Rev. Barbara Gilday came to professional ministry in midlife. Still, her life has been full of inquiry, diversity, social justice, and connecting and sharing with others: teaching in Ghana, hosting Japanese Exchange Programs, developing peer tutoring programs, and hosting a Ukrainian refugee, to name a few. Currently, she is exploring in new and deeper ways how we continue to find joy in and give value to life as our capacities change. Barbara is a grateful member of a loving, blended family.

Topics: Inspiration, Life's journey