Rosemary Blieszner & Janet L. Ramsey 
Spiritual Resiliency in Older Women [PDF ebook] 
Models of Strength for Challenges through the Life Span

Persons of all ages struggle to survive losses and rewrite their life stories. Self-help books abound, yet seldom do we stop to consider living resources, the wise old persons who are among us. Gerontologists Janet L. Ramsey and Rosemary Blieszner have recorded narratives of spiritually resilient German and American women and offer here a rare combination of listening, personal story telling, and professional reflection. Avoiding simplistic answers and acknowledging the ambiguity of human experience, the authors give voice to a remarkably unheard group: strong old women. In this unique book you will find unforgettable stories of courage and faith but also provocative suggestions on how to enrich your clinical and academic work through an increased emphasis on spiritual coping. The authors also emphasize the importance of acknowledging emotions in spiritual experiences, and integrating faith and close human relationships.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUAL RESILIENCY

An Invitation to Listen

Questions of Meaning, Stories of Faith

Overview of Study Methods

PART TWO: THE STORIES

The Gracious Encounters Begin

The American Women

The German Women

Resiliency and Community

Resiliency and Emotion

Resiliency and Personal Relationships

PART THREE: CONCLUSION

Implications for Thinking, Being and Telling

Implications for Gerontology

Über den Autor

Dr. Janet Ramsey joined the Luther Seminary faculty as the associate professor of congregational care leadership in spring 2002. Her title, a new one at Luther Seminary, signals a philosophical and theological change in modern-day pastoral care. Today, the pastor is no longer seen as the sole caregiver in a congregation, but as the one who models care and leads congregations to be caring communities.