The Wayne E. Oates Institute is a Connected Learning Community exploring spirituality and health as a way to advance integrative care for the whole person. The Oates Institute is a non-profit educational organization made up of caregivers from the medical, spiritual and counseling communities providing a forum for joining together as an interdisciplinary dialogue toward understanding the relationship between spirituality and the healing process.

Rev. Dr. Georgine Buckwalter, Director of Pastoral Care at the Episcopal Church Home in Louisville, Kentucky and Chaplain of St. Luke’s Chapel, challenges the American idea that “successful aging” is when one can live proudly and independently without the help of anyone else. She suggests instead that, “successful aging can happen when one is flat on their back on oxygen – or when one is graciously receiving care as well as giving it.” She adds, “holy surrender to circumstances or holy cooperation with circumstances is never spiritual failure!”

Please join us on Thursday, June 11, 7:30-9 pm ET (4:30-6 PT) for a conversation with Dr. Buckwalter on "Growing Spiritually through Life’s Aging Transitions."

Troubled that “so much in our culture does an end-run around aging,” Dr. Buckwalter advocates that the “particularly American idol” of living with rugged independence “needs to be toppled.” Referring to the Biblical story of the woman at the well Rev. Buckwalter suggests, “It is either blessed to collapse with Jesus beside the well and depend on help from that woman with the ladle – or it isn’t.”

Concerned that “we need to recover the biblical, spiritual value of intergenerational reciprocity” Rev. Buckwalter challenges us to “adopt the theological frame of intergenerational reciprocity and interdependence so we can help others, as well as ourselves," to “transition from perceived independence in mid-life to dependence in senior life” and to accept that “receiving care at any stage is holy and needs to be seen as ordinary.”

Dr. Buckwalter notes that when persons in mid-life are asked to list the pros and cons of their movement toward advanced age, 9 of the 10 items on their lists weigh toward losses. “Words and phrases like elder, sage, wise one, cherished, becoming more complete, freedom from the oughts of life, or freedom for unlimited study are seldom used."

While it is true that there are losses that come with aging and “limitations to be endured,” Rev. Buckwalter encourages us to “transcend those limitations,” to reconcile relationships, and to see “with new lenses.” She reminds us, “Jesus did not come to explain away suffering, or to remove it, he came to fill it with his presence” and though it may require hard spiritual work, “society and loss does not have the last word – grace does.”

This online conversation is part of a new series of brief learning events offered by the Oates Institute. Participants in this Live Discussion may earn 2.5 contact hours of continuing education credit, for which certificates will be made available. This Live Discussion is available to anyone from any location with internet access. Those choosing to participate in this real time discussion will gather at the same time in one of the Oates Institute's Online Classrooms. Listening to Dr. Buckwalter's presentation, "Growing Spiritually through Life’s Aging Transitions," is required prior to the Live Discussion for continuing education credits.

This event is free, but registration is required. We encourage you to register early as space is limited. To register:

1. Click here (or go to Online Classrooms from the home page; it is under "Learning Center" in the top navigation bar).

2. Login using your WEOI access codes if you are a member or by creating a new account if you are not a member.

3. Select "Growing Spiritually through Life’s Aging Transitions with Dr. Georgine Buckwalter" under Live Discussions.

4. Click "OK" when you are asked if you want to enroll in this course.

5. This will take you into the Conference Room for the Live Discussion, where you will see confirmation of your registration.