[Dialogue] [Oe List ...] A Path Forward conversation

Sat Mar 15 14:58:31 PDT 2025

Here is something I wrote a few yeasrs ago on being an active elder. It is in my book A Compassionate Civilization:

Elder as Prophet

My dad used to say, “Son, don’t get old, it isn’t any fun.” And I would say, “But, Dad, what’s the alternative—to die young?” If we are given the gift of old age, what can we do with it? I believe that the elder can be a prophet calling people to prepare for what is coming.

Whether or not we had a career or a family, as we move into our elder years, we can be a voice of truth bringing a sense of urgency into the present. We don’t have to worry about what others think of us. We can live utterly on behalf of the coming generations of life on Earth.

We can call people to pay attention to the juggernauts of history rolling down on us. Prepare ye the way for climate chaos! It’s coming, for sure. Stop using fossil fuels now. Move away from bodies of water. Get a storm shelter. Grow your own food. Live near your extended family and friends for mutual support.

The elder as prophet can take risks a person with family and work responsibilities cannot so easily take. The elder can participate in nonviolent demonstrations. The elder can write frank Op-Eds to the local paper and sign every relevant petition. The elder can speak out at community meetings. The elder can donate to important causes. The elder can speak at schools to awaken the young. The elder can help get out the vote and volunteer at the voting site.

The elder can maintain a healthy body and mind so that he or she can continue to serve others. The elder can volunteer at the local food bank or soup kitchen. The elder can give courage to younger people. The elder can show others how to be a human being who is aging self-consciously in gratitude for life itself. The elder can learn and do something new every day.

The elder can be “fierce with age” without apology. The elder can be gracious and yet firm, patient and yet impatient. The elder can invite people to wake up and live life with authenticity and passion. The elder can be active on social media, bringing critical news to the attention of others. The elder can honor death and celebrate the passing of friends, foes, and the homeless.

The elder can show others how to die with dignity and trust. The elder can show others how to live with love and laughter. The elder can show others how to be honest and inquisitive about sickness and old age. The elder can be a wonderful grandparent and great-grandparent. The elder can be a sacred sign of living life fully to the last breath. The elder can call people to dream about the coming civilization of compassion and to work for its realization. Yes!

Robertson Work
Books and bio<https://www.amazon.com/Robertson-Work/e/B075612GBF>    Essays on Substack<https://robertsonwork.substack.com/>    Videos and articles<https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/author/robertson-work/>    Interviews and poetry<https://www.globalheart2heart.com/a-compassionate-civilization-creating-a-new-future-now/?fbclid=IwAR2EAy4c64wCRzlzUCzVKXokqce3hePofFvzdzvCM5aDYRb9QgdFyQPUyxU>
________________________________
From: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> on behalf of Don Bushman via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2025 8:04 PM
To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: Don Bushman <onedonbushman at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] A Path Forward conversation

A Path Forward Conversation Saturday 15 March 4 pm Eastern 1 pm Pacific

This Saturday Sunny Walker will be facilitating a conversation addressing the question

"What role do shared narratives and cultural continuity play in engagement?"

 as it becomes clearer that collapse i.e. withdrawal, does not answer the call to engage in doing the necessary deed of addressing the innocent suffering in our moment.

Please join us in the zoom room found at the zoom is of 630 013 695 and the password is 352922.

Don Bushman
[https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zOIu3LEC6MFTWTu0KY7E502yfIl5gyrUcU9KlzwS-rSnRYeib0f_TPP7f9TiS5-tpufMUq26vAwWag]
[https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4wgIOy7oWy3z_VRwzsBpODEX3NNQ9JDo77bNqvSsjWJ9GswXJj_6KMPdFE-dzLVIcOLFPbwXCt5GgEQ]
828-292-9696

On Sat, Feb 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM Isobel and Jim Bishop via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
Dear Bill,

I’m praying for your gathering by Zoom- not sure of the time difference for me here in Australia, however thank you for your

responsible action on behalf of…

I am also unsure if my first email arrived in  your inbox- so here is this note.

Please put me on the discussion of your insights as they are formed.

Resilience and love for humankind in a new way will shine though.

Thank you to Randy and Dharma for shining the' horrid light 'John Wesley spoke about-  the 'healing light' will come in God’s

Economy of time.

With love in Jesus the Christ,

Isobel

Isobel Bishop
isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au<mailto:isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au>

> On 23 Feb 2025, at 6:53 am, Isobel and Jim via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>
> Hello Bill,
> Thank you.
> I add my name to Wanda.
> I experience here in my country of origin a similar shaking of the foundations as many have described in your nation and Charlie Angus in Canada.
> Sartre said ‘where one country is in chains we are all in chains’
> ( paraphrase).
> Please include my name in any findings:-
> JWM used to say:
> Big think,….act…. Deep resolve.
> Jim Weigel or others will remember the correct words..
> ‘These are the times, and  we are the people’.
> Grace and peace to you Bill, and to  all,
> Hooray for Zoom 👍😊<c159f9e4-be54-4441-8145-09147177112c.png>
> Isobel Bishop
>
>
>
>
> Isobel Bishop
> Mob.  0412 129 425
>
>> On 23 Feb 2025, at 4:04 am, Holcombe Wanda via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>>
>> Bill,
>> I can’t join you today because I’m already on a zoom call with other ICA women regarding Women’s Spirit Reflections which also gathers once or twice a year.
>>
>> Please keep me on your list to participate and if you have any notes to share from this group today, please let me know. Thank you for getting us. And share our thoughts on the
>> future.
>>
>> Grace & Peace
>> Wanda Holcombe
>> wandah8010 at gmail.com<mailto:wandah8010 at gmail.com>
>> 512-619-3469
>> Amberlin 55+ Community
>> Apt #6405
>> Georgetown, TX 78626
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Feb 22, 2025, at 9:12 AM, Bill Parker via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I’d like to invite you to a conversation about a path forward in light of what is happening in the human community today. It will be today at 3:00pm US central time on Zoom. The zoom id is 630 013 695 and the password is 352922. I have sent zoom invites but am not certain if they will reach you. Join if you can
>>>
>>> Bill Parker
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OE mailing list
>>> OE at lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:OE at lists.wedgeblade.net>
>>> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
>> _______________________________________________
>> OE mailing list
>> OE at lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:OE at lists.wedgeblade.net>
>> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
> _______________________________________________
> OE mailing list
> OE at lists.wedgeblade.net<mailto:OE at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net

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