Saturday, May 13, 2017

If You Can’t Go One Way, Go Another!




The special group among older adults known as “Can’t Gos” are often thought of as those restricted to special residential facilities. These may include assisted living and nursing care residences. These facilities may also include the homes of these travel-limited adults and their caregivers. Homebound individuals are just as much “Can’t Gos” as those living in professionally sustained living centers.

Most of these people have seen their vital energies slowly slip away over the years. Physical strength and mental acumen have lessened in spite of all they might have wished. They have become almost totally dependent upon the care and intervention of others. No matter how much they might desire to do so, they cannot go where and when they want. Their hopes and dreams all too often have faded into the regrets of wishes unfulfilled. They see little purpose in day to day living.

What can we offer these individuals and their caregivers to assure them they still have value in the eyes of God and the world? What can we show them that will allow them to see they have much to offer of the highest value both to God and those around them? If they cannot get out and go into the world, then we need to show them another way they can be a part of the work of the Kingdom of God.

As Jesus told his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane,

Mar 14:38 And he said to them"Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

So we must also recognize in these special individuals the flesh may be weak, but the spirit is strong, strong enough still to impact the world.

Though they may not be able to gather with the family of God in corporate worship as they did before and wished to do now, they can still add their spiritual power to others in the faith. Among the spiritual disciplines are prayers of praise and intercession, Bible study, and meditation. There is also the sharing of personal testimony and offering an evangelistic witness.

For those who cannot go out physically and touch their world, they can go out in prayer. Through prayers of praise they are able to maintain a vital relationship with God. Through prayers of intercession they join their prayers to the prayers of other members of their congregation as they lift these concerns to the throne of grace. They may focus upon their own surroundings praying for those who provide their care and are their daily companions. They can use a prayer concerns list provided by their church family to intercede for their congregation and community.

Bible readings, study, and meditation may have to be aided by audio recordings when eyes no longer can see well. An extra incentive for these special people to be involved is to have younger members of their family or the congregation visit them and spend time reading their favorite scripture passages to them. We can encourage these homebound and restricted residents to consider the meaning of these passages for their own lives and for those for whom they pray.

A very special group of homebound individuals are the caregivers who provide the nurture their family members and friends need. They must stay close by their charges at all times. They are never free to leave when they might desire. This group needs the support of others as well. Not only do they need visitors, but they also need the reprieve respite care provides.

Age and travel restrictions should never be a limitation on one’s spiritual progress. Prayer is always available. The Bible is available in multiple forms. The “Can’t Gos” only need to have another way provided.