Aging with Grace

Everyone is flailing through this life without an owner’s manual, with whatever modicum of grace and good humor we can manage.

Anne Lamott

Webster has many definitions of grace. When I think of grace, two things come to mind. First is the grace of the spirit and second is a gracious way of living our lives. Now, more than ever, I’m hanging on to both.

We live in a time of a pandemic, economic peril and worldwide protests. Our medical system is stretched to its limits, small businesses are forced to close their doors and marches against social injustice are happening in our backyards. If there ever was a time for grace, this is it. Much is beyond our control. How we live our lives and where we look for help are two things we have charge of. There is no right or wrong answer. It’s whatever get us through the night, as John Lennon would say. Something to hang on to that gets us to the other side, because one day this will be behind us.

It is often said that crisis brings out the best in people. Whether that is true or not, surviving  the dilemma makes us stronger. We pull through it with the confidence that we can rise to the occasion. We can do what needs to be done.