What Are Your Goals for the New Decade?
Does your New Decade’s resolution involve growing your spiritual life? In a time when the news is frightening and the problems of the world only seem to be growing, it should come as no surprise that there are many who are looking to set some new spiritual goals as the last day of this decade passes.
Although organized religion has seen a decrease in participants in the last 20 years, there are some indications that non denominational churches are now changing that trend. By encouraging people to sign up for a Bible or book study, for instance, many churches are creating a less formal way to get people involved in a more thoughtful and spiritual life. By offering morning and evening classes throughout the week, there are ways to meet the needs of people who want to grow their faith outside of a more traditional Sunday morning worship.
In what has been a male dominated world in many religions, there are ways that churches are shifting this trend and encouraging entire families to join in the routines that make a church service happen. By getting involved in the liturgy as a family, for instance, children and adults alike are more likely to make attendance a priority. The decision to be greeters entrusted with promoting a sense of welcoming and belonging or assist in serving coffee and donuts through hospitality is a way to meet more people in a community of faith.
Many people who feel that something is missing in their life, come to discover the benefits of meeting on a regular basis with a community of like minded believers. Churches that are welcoming, rather than exclusionary, are likely to see the most gains in a time when the world is already divided on too many issues.
When Memory Loss Threatens Your Life
One of the times when many people and entire families find themselves going back to church is when illness threatens their lives. Looking for a way to cope with a schedule of Foley catheters, nutritional care, and other kinds of medical supplies, it is important to know that you have a church family and pastors to support your struggle.
The reality of life today is that more and more people are facing debilitating situations and loss of life that are attached to Alzheimers or other kind of dementia. As a result, there are an increasing number of groups and individuals that are offering ways to ward off these threatening memory conditions. From promoting regular physical exercise to encouraging adults to play electronic games for a few minutes a day, there are now theories about the ways that some activities can help protect people themselves from the early onset of these memory diseases.
No one wants to think that they will fall victim to this dangerous disease, but the reality is that a significant number of us will eventually die from some form of dementia.
From the need for Foley catheters to mobility accessories, the onset of dementia can lead to many other kinds of limitations. Dealing with the first signs of memory loss may be frightening, but the later implications of these diseases are often even more frightening. The use of Foley catheters in a home setting require the help of outside medical staff coming into your home, and sometimes the challenge is so great that families make the decision to move a loved one to a more traditional in patient setting.
Urinary incontinence increases with age from 14% in individuals between the ages of 65 and 69 years to 45% in those aged 85 years or over, so the use of Foley catheters is often an eventual reality for many people. In fact, 15% to 25% of hospitalizations will require the placement of a Foley catheter because an indwelling catheter helps pass urine through the bladder during a hospital stay or surgery.
No matter if you are looking for spiritual support because of a medical condition or you are in need of a way to process the daily news, it is possible that you will find the strength you need in the new decade by turning to the church. Life will continue to be a challenge, both medically and spiritually. Are you ready?
