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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

One of the few books written for later life is by Frits de Lange, Loving Later Life: An Ethics of Aging. … De Lange defines loving later life as “accepting the call into the no-man’s land of old age and surrendering oneself heartily to the opportunity of deepening the experience of being alive—up to death.” Unlike de Lange, I write not as a researcher or a scholar of later life but as one who is experiencing being ninety. Despite some diminishment, I am still “vital and green” (Ps. 92:14, NLT).

—Richard L. Morgan, Light of Setting Suns: Reflecting on Realities and Mysteries at Ninety Years of Life (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Today’s Question

What can you do to stay “vital and green” as you age? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.

—Psalm 92:14, NLT

Prayer for the Week

Lord of all ages, I feel blessed that you have given me these
bonus years. Help me to live each day as if it were my last,
redeeming whatever time remains. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Find out how author Richard L. Morgan has stayed resilient into his 90s despite the many losses that accompany later life. Read more about him here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

3 Comments

  • Julie Posted March 15, 2021 8:58 am

    This is a topic and a question seriously as I feel my body changing with each passing year. I exercise and watch what I eat and take several vitamins and supplements. Itry to stay up to date with health screenings. But I know I need to do more. I need to get out once this pandemic is less of a threat and make human connections and volunteer and do for others.
    Prayers for Ally and David, may David spend this last day of therapy working hard and may his return home find him stronger and steadier and more independent. May Ally’s health improve and may the doctor find the source of her malaise. May Lewis kitty find more food he is able to tolerate. Tazzie toward the end also became finicky and we used meat baby food as well as cat food that comes in small tubes (Megan and I called them “gogurt” because that is what they resembled). Prayers for family of that sick child and may they feel God’s strength and love. May God be with the child also and ease his suffering.
    Prayers for April and her family and Lou and her family, may all be safe and well and enjoy the good weather.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry. Thankful Larry arrived in Florida safely and may the sunshine renew his spirit.
    Prayers for Marcy and Robert, may they both comment soon and may they be safe and well.
    Megan and I spent a glorious day of sunshine visiting stores we used to go to often when she was younger. One is a wonderful store that has many wares from a greenhouse and florist to toys and model trains to candles and candy and many knick knacks and religious items. They have a display that wends through one side of the store which set off by walls and it includes many vignettes that are populated by bunnies and other animals in various settings and performing funny antics. The first was a soapbox derby and one involved various fairy tales. The other store was a candy store where the people are warm and friendly and the chocolate plentiful and the best around.
    Prayers for and thank you to the UR administrators.

  • Ally Posted March 15, 2021 1:22 pm

    I watched my mom kind of “drop out” of life when her mobility diminished. She didn’t want to do her physical therapy after a hip replacement because it hurt. I truly feel that if she had kept active and engaged, she would have maintained h more of her faculties. I am not an active person by nature, so I have resolved to do an activity every day and at least 1 more household chore. i plan to Make sure I play piano and/or guitar at least 15 minutes a day and read something stimulating and discuss what I have read. I covet your prayers as I begin this effort.
    David is coming home tomorrow. Please pray he continues to grow strong and that I will be up to the task of caring for him until he can do more for himself. Lewis is breathing well and seems to feel much better. He looks a lit better, but needs to eat more. Please continue to pray for increased appetite.
    Julie, praying we both engage and do more. Meat baby food is what got Lewis eating after a serious illness several years ago. Ill get some and try it. Sounds like you and Megan had a wonderful day. There is a wonderful store about an hour from us that has a fresh locally grown produce, garden and greenhouse plants, fifty items, and homemade ice cream. We love to visit there. Prayers Jill, that her return to class is going smoothly and that Larry is enjoying Florida. Praying for April, Lou, and our other regulars. Praying Marcy continues to experience healing and wellness. Praying that Robert is well and safe and that we hear from him soon. Prayers for all to be aware of the Lord’s presence this day.

  • Jill Posted March 15, 2021 5:18 pm

    My dad insists that he keep moving – lifting weights daily and walking. When he called this afternoon while I was grilling up dinner – he told me he had taken two walks today. Where my sister lives – there are several gradual hills. He loves to tell me about when he “hits the hills”. He sounds good, happy to be in the sun with his flip flops on. I had a moment yesterday where I was deeply grateful that I can just take my 87 year old father to the airport and know he will be find making his way around and hooking up with my sister on the other end. His health is such a gift.
    I tried to have really low, realistic expectations going into today. And I was pleasantly surprised because of that. My first class was my Year 2 students – and most of them returned – and it was wonderful to see them again. They easily engaged in class discussion during our notes and it was just really good. My year 1 students – only a handful returned – and I didn’t recognize 2 of them, because they never had their camera on. It was a review day – so there wasn’t much interaction. They have a quiz in our next class (I see my students every other day). Tomorrow I will see the remainder of my students – another group of Year 2 – looking forward to that. The remainder of my Year 1 students – this is the more rigorous class – and I am hoping to get better class discussion going – but I am not so sure it will happen. Nevertheless – it was good to be back. I felt much better about the day than I had anticipated. One really big positive is my school desk is L-shaped and the amount of space I had on it was incredible. So much more than my little card table. It was fantastic. Ahhh, the little things in life.
    One lowly crocus has popped out of the ground under my mailbox. No sunshine today, so it was not open. But, there in white and purple, amongst the greenery of my anemone was the lone crocus.

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