A Prayer For The Elders

A Prayer for the Elders is a calming and reflective guided practice and is one of a series of spirit-based devotionals from James Anthony Walker. These are approximately 15 minutes in length, begin with spoken word, and are followed by ambient music as a means of centering, and taking the devotional into personal discernment.

Our elders have spun their lives into the fabric of our culture. They deserve our respect and inclusion.

In loving memory of Ram Dass.

Transcript

One day,

Maybe many years from now,

They may call me an elder,

They may call me old,

They may call me less than I was,

Maybe,

If I am blessed to live that long.

One day,

Maybe many years from now,

I may be less than I was,

From a life that I have been blessed to live,

But that may have been filled with challenge,

Challenges to my mind that has so faithfully helped me see the possible in my life ahead,

A mind that has asked so many questions,

That has provided so many answers,

And dreamed so many dreams,

Challenges to my body that has walked me down the path I have chosen,

That has held together through wellness and illness,

And that has tended to so many others,

Many from their very first step down their own paths,

Challenges to my heart that has filled me with the life that courses through me while showing me how to live with compassion,

The open heart that has helped me know the joy in the love of myself and the love I have known for and from others,

And the grieving heart that has made me feel as though my own life has ended,

As it has filled me with sorrow for the loss of loved ones that I have grown to cherish.

Maybe many years from now,

They may call me an elder,

They may call me old,

Less than I was,

Or maybe,

If I am blessed to live that long,

They may see that my mind blessed me with a sense of possibility,

That sense which they now seek for themselves as well.

They may see that the questions I answered which defined the choices I made are now the questions they seek to inform their choices as well.

They may see that the dreams I dreamt kept my spirit alive,

And they may now wonder how I did that.

Maybe they may see that the life that has been hard on my body and that has walked me down my path in this life needs their help now,

Even as they walk down their own.

Maybe they will see that I cherish my wellness the very same as they do theirs,

And that my illness needs the same loving care and support as theirs does.

Maybe I will feel their compassion,

The compassion I have taught them by example.

Maybe they will have learned to love from looking at the love that I have had for myself and for others in my life.

Maybe they will feel as though a part of them has died when I reach the end of my travels down this road I have taken.

Maybe many years from now they may call me an elder,

And as they dream their dreams,

Walk their dogs,

Live their lives with compassion,

Feel the joy in their new beginnings and the sorrow in their losses.

Maybe they will see me in themselves and cherish the example I have given them.

And so I pray for the elders as I pray for myself,

Because we are,

All of us,

Just walking each other home.

Amen.

And I pray for the elders as I pray for myself,

Because we are,

All of us,

Just walking You You You You You You

Reviews

Thank you for this mesningfui and thiught-ful message of love toward all the wisdom I received from every "giant" (elder) in my life. Each are the wise sages who have taught me as they have shared and walked side by side on my path!! 💖🙏

Such a beautiful meditation about the elder. Wise words that will stay with me
🙏

The Elders bring me wisdom. Thank you for this inspiring prayer.

That was beautiful. Thank you for voicing these loving ideas.

Thank you so much for this beautiful meditation. I’m helping care for my 85 year old mom, which is rewarding and also challenging. I will share this with her. 🙏💛🙏

Just beautiful. Thank you for remembering the elderly who are often disregarded and tossed aside. We have to care for them and be sensitive to the losses that have accumulated over the years and towards the end. It can't be an easy path to see the world get smaller and the many hopes and dreams that never come to fruition as vitality and hope slip away. Let us hold the elderly in our hearts with compassion.

A wonderful meditation, very calming 💖🌸 thank you James

Very moving 🙏💫

Love it. Thank you 😊 💓

Exactly what I needed this morning as I just learned that the 2 elders I have in my life that mean the world to me were just diagnosed (husband and wife) with covid. I will return to this one. Thank you. Thank YOU. 💫🕊💫

I have listened to Insight Timer for quite some time now, and recently joined and became a member. I found your sleep meditation music tonight as I was struggling to sleep. Your words spoke so true no matter what age or what stage of life one is in. I recently lost my 95-year-old mother who is my Angel and lived life with such joy and happiness. I am reminded to be more self-compassionate and kinder to myself as I grow older with health concerns. Thank you for the beautiful words and music James!

Beautifully touching prayer. 🙏🏻💓
Thank you for sharing, it touched me deeply.

Very thoughtful and loving.

That was lovely. Thank you so much, James. 🙏🏻❤️

This was very touching and absolutely beautiful! 💕

My 90 year old Mom is in surgery this morning, so hard in these times where you can only drop someone off at day surgery, no hugs, just leave them there. This meditation came at the right time.

So moved by this. I thought of my 89 yr old father who used to work out at a local university gym 4 days a week who is now quarantined. I think of his undying faith even in these challenging and tragic times. I think of the endless examples of courage and wisdom he has shown me and my siblings for his entire life. I pray for him. Thank you for this meditation. ☮️🙏

Profound. I absolutely loved the pace, your voice, words and music. My only wish is that your voice would come through equally on both speakers as i could only hear your voice on the left and music mostly on the right. Thank you for honouring our elders and for sharing your light with us.

Sandpapered some rough edges. To love universally- the ripe on the vine , the forest ancients, what they have weathered-started from a seed. Humbled by the trees that give fruits every year. May we be Patient, generous and cherish our seniors. Pay it forward

As a rising Elder, I needed this.