Resources for Third Third Inner Work

Each quarter, the Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where I work, focuses on a particular theme that is relevant to the people we serve. Last year, for example, our themes included Redemptive Imagination, Rest, and Reflection. Our theme for Winter 2024 is Inner Work. You can find development of that theme in De Pree Center articles such as “The Inner Life of Leadership” by Jasmine Bellamy and “How to Be a Better Boss” by Michaela O’Donnell. Also, I’ve been writing a Life for Leaders devotional series called “A Biblical Guide to Inner Work.”

Inner work is certainly relevant to those of us in the third third of life. In fact, I would go so far as to say that inner work is essential for third third flourishing. If you want to live fully, fruitfully, and faithfully as you get older, then you must engage in thoughtful, honest, and searching inner work.

I develop this thesis in an article on the De Pree Center website: “Inner Work and the Third Third of Life.” This article lays out many of the basics of third third inner work.

A number of books address the inner work of aging. The most obvious one is a fairly recent book by Connie Zweig, Ph.D. called The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul. I summarize the main points of this book in my article, “Inner Work and the Third Third of Life.” There is much about The Inner Work of Age that I found helpful, but I should be clear about the perspective of the author. She writes as someone who embraces Eastern religion (Hinduism and Buddhism) combined with Jungian psychology (the Shadow, archetypes, etc.). She mentions Christianity occasionally, though it seems as if she’s not fond of classical Christian faith. So, Zweig’s understanding of inner work only takes us so far.

Several Christian writers have much wisdom about inner work in relationship to aging, though this is not displayed in their book titles. I would recommend the following volumes:

Alice Fryling, Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older. Alice offers deep, biblically-based wisdom for one seeking to do the inner work of aging.

R. Paul Stevens, Aging Matters: Finding your calling for the rest of your life. This is one of the very best books on aging, in my opinion. Chapter 4, “Aging as a Spiritual Journey,” is particularly relevant to the inner work conversation.

Karen Kaigler-Walker, Aging in Spirit: A Woman’s Journey to God. Though she wrote this book primarily for women, I found that many of her insights spoke to me as a man in the third third of life.

Will Willimon, Aging: Growing Old in Church. This book is filled with wisdom, though it was written more for pastors and other church leaders than for people in the third third of life.

J. I. Packer, Finishing Our Course with Joy: Guidance from God for Engaging with Our Aging. This book speaks especially to folks in the latter stages of the third third of life (the sixth sixth?).

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