ELDERHOOD, DEATH-PHOBIC CULTURE, AND FINDING MEANING IN A TROUBLED WORLD | STEPHEN JENKINSON
“That’s what I fundamentally tried to do; redefine dying so that it became something not that happened to you, that had to be micromanaged, but something that you did instead.”
In this episode, we share the profound work of Stephen Jenkinson, an internationally renowned teacher and author of several books on the topics of elderhood, death and wisdom. Stephen shares his experiences working with dying people and their families as a former program director in a Canadian hospital, shedding light on the brokenness of our modern Western approach to death. He challenges the prevailing death phobia in our society and explores the importance of embracing the reality of dying in order to live more fully.
Stephen also shares his insights on spirituality and the blurred lines between a spiritual life and a regular life, the challenges faced by both the oldest and youngest generations in a rapidly changing world and the importance of understanding our past and the potential consequences of our actions on future generations. Tune in for a deep and introspective conversation that will leave you questioning your role in shaping the world around you and your impulse for “answers” in light of the realities of our times…
Episode highlights
How the “life-affirming” language used in end of life care is actually preventing people from taking an active role in their dying, which Stephen argues is essential
Why you can’t really prepare for dying
Stephen’s fascinating take on the transition of British colonists to America and why our society has become elder-less
Reflecting on which cultures around the world seem to have the most death-phobia
Our natural impulse to protect our kids and create a better world for them - and what to do instead
Responsible citizenship and the taking care of ancestry
How to think about change and the future generations to come
Our Guest - Stephen Jenkinson
Stephen teaches internationally and is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, co-founded the school with his wife Nathalie in 2010, which is a redemptive project rooted in knowing history, being claimed by ancestry, and working for a time we won’t see.
He has Master’s degrees in theology from Harvard University and social work from University of Toronto, and has worked extensively with dying people and their families as a former programme director in a major Canadian hospital, and former assistant professor in a prominent Canadian medical school.
He’s also the author of the award-winning books as Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul, Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble and many more.
“When there’s finally no hope left, that’s when you put a scent in the air of what some people did in a time of trouble. Because the people to come, they’re going to need that. They’re going to need to know that they come from people who are worthy of coming from. And you don’t hope you’ll be worthy. You get worthy now.”
Resources:
Stephen Jenkinson’s website, Orphan Wisdom School
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Link to YouTube Video Version of the Conversation
