Spiritual Life
Exploring the inner spiritual life for those who have lost other faculties.
There are elements under other headings which indicate that when other faculties fail us we have to open ourselves more to the ways in which God relates to us through his Holy Spirit. This is God's faculty of presence in human life. Our dependence on the Spirit rather than ourselves is 'grace'.
There are elements under other headings which indicate that when other faculties fail us we have to open ourselves more to the ways in which God relates to us through his Holy Spirit. This is God's faculty of presence in human life. Our dependence on the Spirit rather than ourselves is 'grace'.
There is much suggested in relation to dementia and church life that is around the idea of maintaining what is familiar. The following are some reflections following conversations and from experience.
The most obvious element of people's spiritual lives that taps into the familiar is the use of hymns/songs, as music itself is so helpful in sparking memory. Clearly this is positive while people hold some deep recollection, even if it is only from school assemblies. The challenges here are presented by different wording and different tunes, so things might not be that familiar for some! Also, the longer-term challenge of a time when hymns are not familiar.
For some the order and structure of liturgy provides a helpful setting, so people know what to expect and what is coming next. However, this is not the case for all.
One of my conversations highlighted both the difficulties presented by more informal worship patterns, with the use of projected words etc. and the challenge of sacramental worship.
- The use of hymns and songs taps into the fact that music is helpful in sparking memory. Certainly it is not strange to find people whose sole experience of hymns was in school mouthing words when hymns are sung.
- Some challenges come from differing words and tunes - both a familiar hazard to anyone leading worship.
The most obvious element of people's spiritual lives that taps into the familiar is the use of hymns/songs, as music itself is so helpful in sparking memory. Clearly this is positive while people hold some deep recollection, even if it is only from school assemblies. The challenges here are presented by different wording and different tunes, so things might not be that familiar for some! Also, the longer-term challenge of a time when hymns are not familiar.
For some the order and structure of liturgy provides a helpful setting, so people know what to expect and what is coming next. However, this is not the case for all.
One of my conversations highlighted both the difficulties presented by more informal worship patterns, with the use of projected words etc. and the challenge of sacramental worship.
Dementia God and Christian Faith - a blog entry by Revd. James Howell
http://revjameshowell.blogspot.com/2014/01/dementia-god-christian-faith.html
"W.H. Vanstone wrote a marvelous little book called The Stature of Waiting, in which he explains how in the first half of each Gospel, Jesus is in command, boldly striding into new territories, conquering demons; he is a doer, in control of everything, even the wind and the sea.
But then the mood changes abruptly. Jesus becomes reflective, less proactive, darkly hinting at his fate. He is “handed over” by Judas, to the authorities, and he does not fight back; he says nothing. He is no longer active, but passive. His glory dawns not when he acts, but when he is acted upon. Vanstone says this is hopeful for us, for our lives often traverse that same ground: we grow old or sick and are increasingly forced to be dependent on others. We fear our identity is lost if we are not active and productive. But Jesus shows us that who we are, who he was, is found not in our activity but in what we suffer, in what we receive.
Persons with dementia might continue to be productive, if we let them; I know a woman with no short-term memory who vacuums her house several times a day, and is content. But even when we cannot be productive, we are no less valuable, to God and to Jesus’ followers. We all need to learn dependence upon God – and it may be our best object lesson is in someone for whom we are caring. Dependence is not humiliation, but grace.
http://revjameshowell.blogspot.com/2014/01/dementia-god-christian-faith.html
"W.H. Vanstone wrote a marvelous little book called The Stature of Waiting, in which he explains how in the first half of each Gospel, Jesus is in command, boldly striding into new territories, conquering demons; he is a doer, in control of everything, even the wind and the sea.
But then the mood changes abruptly. Jesus becomes reflective, less proactive, darkly hinting at his fate. He is “handed over” by Judas, to the authorities, and he does not fight back; he says nothing. He is no longer active, but passive. His glory dawns not when he acts, but when he is acted upon. Vanstone says this is hopeful for us, for our lives often traverse that same ground: we grow old or sick and are increasingly forced to be dependent on others. We fear our identity is lost if we are not active and productive. But Jesus shows us that who we are, who he was, is found not in our activity but in what we suffer, in what we receive.
Persons with dementia might continue to be productive, if we let them; I know a woman with no short-term memory who vacuums her house several times a day, and is content. But even when we cannot be productive, we are no less valuable, to God and to Jesus’ followers. We all need to learn dependence upon God – and it may be our best object lesson is in someone for whom we are caring. Dependence is not humiliation, but grace.