It is no coincidence that many people begin to focus on faith and religious beliefs as they age. Not only do they have more time to ponder what those beliefs are, but often religion and spirituality are tremendous coping mechanisms as we get older.
Faith in the God of our choosing can be a tremendous source of relief, comfort, support, and sustenance in times of trouble. But not all retirees seek to find religion as they age. Some have had it all along, and in other cases, religion is given up as one advances in age, for a host of reasons, although often tragedy and loss rank near the top of the list.
A grand survey, some 45 years in the making, is underway at the Templeton Foundation, which explores the future of religion, and is particularly interested in what the 58 million Baby Boomers approaching retirement age will make of their faith (or lack thereof) in the years to come.
Not surprisingly, some 70% of Americans over the age of 55 identify themselves not only as believing in a higher power, but being Christians, with various sub-cultures of the religion represented by smaller percentages.
But what about that other 30%? That’s a huge number when you come right down to it, and if you are part of that third of the country that claims no religious identity, believe me when I say it’s never too late to give religion a try.
Not only can religious teachings and services provide you with a social interaction that you might otherwise not have during the week, but they also give the opportunity to explore different religions, hear preachers and reverends of different faiths talk about important things like morality, the meaning of life and the existence of God.
You may be a skeptic who needs years or decades to be convinced of a higher power, or you might be someone who feels lost and is seeking guidance, but the point to remember here is that until you start taking the steps of discovery and self-discovery, you’re never going to make any progress towards finding answers you might be seeking.
If you are new to a senior living community, discussing your faith or taking interest in someone else’s is a tremendous way to make new friends and find new hobbies and pastimes to throw yourself into now that you’re retired and is time is no longer in such short supply.
If you’re not ready to take a new church service for a spin just yet, fear not. Libraries in many community settings like ours have plenty of religious titles from the Bible itself on to studies of various religions as well as spiritually-driven books written by people who have felt the touch of a higher power and seek to share it with others.
If you feel like more research is required before you venture out to a service, consider using our business center or the high-speed Internet to perform your own research, get answers to your most burning questions, compare and contrast different faiths to try and find something that fits your beliefs and needs.
When you are ready to seek out a service, we offer two great tools to help you do so. First and foremost is our concierge service, which can help you find and recommend any service under the sun. Our concierge staff has an astute knowledge of the area, and can point you in the right direction for any type of church, synagogue, temple, or other place of worship you might be seeking.
Once you’ve found the service you want to try, you can engage our Connections Transportation to get you there safely and on time.
Whether you were baptized the day you were born or have never set foot inside of a church in your life, we welcome you to explore, embrace, celebrate and learn about your faith as a valued resident of our community.
Conservatory at Alden Bridge is here to provide our Seniors with a variety of ways to stay active and engaged in the community. Learn about our programs and amenities when you contact us today at 832.400.6577.
