Older Women

Maya Angelou
Western culture does not generally have high esteem for older women. They are often ignored or discounted as insignificant in our society. Yet in many cultures they are considered wise and in their fullness of power.
We have many examples from history. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was considered too old to bear a child, yet God chose to make her the mother of a great nation. Naomi, a widow in a foreign land, found friendship and courage in her later years. Anna, another elderly widow, was able to prophesy about the divine nature of Mary’s baby. Teresa of Avila, 16th century reformer, started a whole new religious order in her old age. Mother Teresa of Calcutta engendered public acclaim for her work among the destitute as an older woman. Maya Angelou gave lectures and performed well into her 80’s. 
In our culture, we tend to prize independence as a sign of maturity.Yet studies of women show a greater reliance on interdependence and relationships as qualities that give them life and hope as they age. Women are more interested in cooperation than competition. They tend to form alliances to make a difference in their world. Perhaps we need to take another look at the contributions and wisdom of older women.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Limping to God I come to you, God, weather-beaten and limping, asking for forgiveness for all the times I have failed to be faithful and attentive to all those around me, especially the elderly who have run the race, the poor, the lonely and abandoned, who need my care and concern.     Is there any hope for these old bones? What will it take to change my limp into a surge of energy and a ready step? Teach me to become more caring, more responsive, more aware. Give me eyes to see and the will to act on my good intentions.   Water my dried up spirit and shriveled body, expand my shrunken heart. Give me eyes to see what you are leading me to do even as my bones creak and my legs become unsteady. Make me remember that I am here to serve, to listen, to be ready to be your hands and feet today.   Barbara Mayer, OSB    
Read more
Image
  Inspired by Scholastica Learning from Grief When I read the news headlines today (and most days), I felt overwhelmed with sadness. Most of the news was about shootings, injustices, tragedies, and murders. I wanted to ignore the grief, to put it out of my mind.   But Richard Rohr, a Catholic author, says we need to feel the grief because it has a lot to teach us. It seems the writers of the Psalms knew this. Of the 150 psalms, a third are about grief.   The psalmists grieved being overcome by enemies, losing loved ones, leaving their land, suffering illness, and more. The psalms of lament teach us that there is value in God-oriented exasperation. The psalmists always seemed to know God was with them and would help them survive. Our tears and sorrow are signs of our humanity. Lament is a very deeply spiritual practice. It is important to take time to grieve and to heal from our losses. One author called lament a ritual of cleansing and preparation for what is yet ...
Read more
Image
  Inspired by Scholastica     A Tree’s Lament The fierce winds blew whipping my branches, stripping my leaves. Then I felt a painful crack down my right side ripping open a limb, crippling my strength.   I feared the storm’s wildness raging on-- would it end my life on this peaceful green spot overlooking the graves of women long passed, with old majestic buildings looming behind me?   It holds so many memories of flowing robes and veils, women who devoted their lives to prayer and teaching and serving others.   Maybe my broken wound will heal and not be deadly. Hopefully they will not chop me down completely, let me live a little longer to provide shade and beauty for my monastery home.   Barbara Mayer, OSB              
Read more