CREATING A SPIRITUAL RETIREMENT: A Guide to the Unseen Possibilities in Our Lives

Part memoir, part primer for retirement, this book will appeal to readers who embrace spirituality as a vital part of their lives. The author was once a teacher, hospital chaplain and nun who gave up her vows in order to marry a man who had been a priest. Now entering retirement, Srode is concerned about the spiritual aspects of her new status. The book's opening section explores the individual as a spiritual being; the second discusses the concept and experience of God; and the final part looks at spirituality in everyday life. Retirement, she explains, is a time when "relationships take on new significance," and people confront their fears of illness and death. This makes retirement an ideal time for cultivating a deeper spirituality. Each chapter is followed by a reflection and by some questions for readers to answer. Throughout the book, she emphasizes spirituality, which she defines as "the way in which we recognize and relate to the unseen but no less real presence of spirit in our lives—both our own spirit and the ultimate spirit that many call God." She urges meditation as a way to heighten awareness of one's spirituality, and offers some practical meditation suggestions. This book is a useful guide for spiritually minded individuals who seek additional meaning for their retirement years. (Mar.)