Dear Spiritual Senior,
We have achieved a milestone that I want to share: nearly 10,000 readers now receive Spiritual Seniors.
I’ve thought about that number more than I expected. Sure, it matters—but not for the usual reasons.
Not 10,000 strong.
Not 10,000 together.
But 10,000 different ways.
Each person who reads these reflections carries a life shaped by particular joys, losses, questions, convictions—and callings. No two paths alike. No two stories interchangeable. Some are loud. Many are quiet. All of them unfinished.
That variety has always been the strength of this community.
Spiritual Seniors did not grow because everyone agreed, or arrived from the same place, or shared the same language for meaning. It grew because many of you recognized something familiar here: a respect for depth, for lived experience, for questions that don’t rush toward answers.
Over time, this space has become something more than a publication. I didn’t set out for that to happen—but it did.
It became a conversation—marked by attentiveness, by patience, by the shared sense that later life is not a narrowing, but a widening—of insight, compassion, perspective.
That widening looks different in every life. And it doesn’t always look settled or easy.
If you read quietly, know that your presence still matters.
If you write back, comment, or share, thank you for adding your voice.
If you’ve been here since the beginning or arrived last week, you belong equally.
How You Can Help
Spiritual Seniors is reader-supported. Contributions help keep this space independent, thoughtful, and free from the pressures that so often flatten conversation into noise.
I’m mindful of how often people are asked to support things these days. So I’ll simply say this: if this work has given you language for something you were already carrying, your support helps ensure it continues.
Ten thousand readers does not make a movement.
Ten thousand lives, lived thoughtfully—and taken seriously—just might.
With gratitude,
Jim
Founder & Editor
Spiritual Seniors
Reader submissions may be lightly edited for clarity and length, while preserving the writer’s original voice.
Michelle Heitmann February 1, 2026
I’m not sure how I got involved with Spiritual Seniors, but I am grateful that I did.
I retired from my work life at 62, thinking, now I can get my house in order, do some repairs and enjoy some hobbies. What I didn’t realize was that with all of our kiddos grown and raising their families, my “team” of helpers was gone. Everything seemed so overwhelming without some extra hands to help.
Then, my husband decided to work from home. He has taken over the dining room and PC as his workspace. How was I supposed to do what I needed to do?
I also didn’t realize that I was still grieving the loss of my parents and a close relative. Two years ago, I just walked away from my musical endeavors as part of our church choir and a German folk group, and without singing in the choir, church attendance seemed to be unimportant.
I started wondering who I really was aside from my singing or parenting or homemaking.
Thank you for keeping me connected to God as my purpose, support, and guide. My prayer life has increased, although I’m still not going to church. I do live-stream services.
I intend on supporting you soon.
Michelle