Recently, I read an article about flourishing in the Third Third of life. The question asked by the author, my friend Mark Roberts, was, “What do you long for in this time of your life?” Follow-up questions include: “What are your longings for the present?” and “What are your longings for the future?” I will focus on just one aspect of the article. You are invited to read the rest of the article at https://depree.org/third-third-longings/.

In asking what older adults long for, the standard answer is good health. People want to live a long life but only if it is a healthy life. They want what is being called “Healthspan.” They want to continue living independently in their own homes, or at least in a place of their own choosing, rather than in some type of assisted living location. Self-reliance is a big longing for those in this stage of life.

But Chris Holck, Senior Pastor of Live Oaks Community Church in the Villages in Florida, a community for adults fifty-five and older, has discovered another longing in his congregation. In ministering to people exclusively in the Third Third of life, Holck found a great desire for people in this stage of life to serve. Despite his congregation living in a retirement community designed and built for the recreation and personal benefits of retirement, he sees a tremendous desire of those in his church to serve not just others in the community, but people in all stages of life.

Experts in developmental psychology agree with this finding. Those who study the stages of life speak about “generativity.” This term means “to have a need to nurture and guide younger people and contribute to the next generation.” We accomplish this by building relationships with people younger than ourselves.

This is not a new concept. Psalm 71 speaks directly about this. In verses 17-18 we read:

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,

and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18 So even to old age and gray hairs,

O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

your power to all those to come. (emphasis added)

Mark Roberts writes,

Flourishing adults in the third third of life long to make a difference in the world, especially in a way that improves the lives of younger generations. Often this generative longing is focused on grandchildren, for obvious and good reasons. But it can also be directed to

students in a local elementary school, neighborhood kids, young parents at church, and folks in society as a whole.

So I repeat the question we began with: “What are you longing for?”

I would love to pray with you and for you as you explore this question. It is never too late to begin. Let’s flourish together in this time of our lives.

Think about it and be blessed today.

As someone who lives in the Third Third myself, I am always looking for ways to keep my life relevant for the Lord and exploring my purpose for this stage of life. Part of that purpose is to share these thoughts and ideas with all of you. It is my prayer and hope that as we walk this path together, we will have a greater impact on the Kingdom of God.

I will be writing these short articles on a regular basis going forward. If you would rather not receive them, let me know and I will remove you from the list. Also, if you know someone else who would like to receive them, let us know and we can add them to the list. This information will be relevant to the churched and unchurched alike so feel free to share it with others outside the church who are looking to flourish in the Third Third of life.