In August I experienced two powerful events where the collaboration in planning and execution was the key to their success.  Together they were a reminder to me of something that I know, but tend to forget:  collaborative planning and execution of programs creates energy, joy and positive feelings that last long after the event.

The first event was my daughter's wedding.  She chose to have her wedding in a community neither one of us has lived in since 1989.  But her step-mom does live there, as does her grandmother, as well as good friends.  Many other extended family are also within easy driving distance and both she and her husband have friends in the area.  In the course of the wedding planning offers of help came from all sides-from the friend who offered her barn and pasture for the site, to the friend who volunteered her husband and herself to be my "home team," to her step-mother who grew all the flowers, from family and friends who showed up the morning of the wedding to do sheep dropping scooping in the pasture, and her brother-law who became the de facto wedding coordinator as the caterer and others showed up!  My daughter is a master planner, but so many contributed so much, the whole weekend became a joyous celebration that all were able to enjoy.  As she said the day after the wedding, "It was everything I'd planned and hoped for, and so much more."

After coming home from the wedding I experienced a summer event at the retirement community where my office is located.  Planned jointly by community staff and the community volunteer auxiliary, this "Village Faire" was a festive and fun event that included residents from all levels of care with the help of many volunteers and village staff.  In addition staff from the community's corporate office as well as the retirement community staff pitched in to run game booths and serve cotton candy.  It was great fun to watch residents intently aim their beanbags at the trolls they were trying to knock down. No matter their score they received a prize.  They also gleefully threw balls toward the target that would dunk their favorite staff member.  Residents, family members and staff clapped and danced to the musical entertainment and everyone enjoyed the picnic dinner.  The mood of fun and joy persists even now in this community. All of this came to be because of the joining of forces and collaborative planning and execution.

When I talk to those who plan programs for senior adults in both congregations and senior living and care settings, I am struck by how often they are doing the planning (and often the execution) all by themselves.  I am also struck by how often they are tired and discouraged and how they are finding it hard to find the energy and passion they need to do this job well.  From my own experience in a congregation and a retirement community, I know that planning as a team makes all the difference.  As new ideas are generated enthusiasm and energy emerge.  And once the plans are made there is shared ownership and commitment to pulling it off.

So what does this have to do with spiritual care?  Here is the definition of spirituality that I work from: 

Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature and to the significant or sacred.[i]  

Did you notice the part about connectedness?  If we want to facilitate and encourage the older adults we serve to greater connectedness with themselves, others, the wider world and the sacred, doesn't it make sense to provide programming that comes from a process that includes connecting and collaborating?  And when we do that I think it will spur us on to think about how we can encourage resident-to-resident, staff-to-resident connectedness and collaboration through the programs we plan and through the everyday interactions of life.   And as we collaborate and connect, we will find that we are energized and that the climate where we serve becomes more often than not, one of joy and gladness. 

The CASA Network International Leadership Conference is November 6-8, 2013 at First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas.  The Christian Association Serving Adult (CASA) Ministries conference is for congregational leaders who want to learn how to serve all age groups, focusing on ways to form inter-generational connections and ministry to and through those 50+.  The event website is here.