He points out that the church is rich in symbols that could help to both celebrate and grieve the transitions of aging. Ritual would counteract the process of marginalization so frequent with retirement. Dozia Carlson, quoting Simmons, adds emphasis. But the transition from employed workforce to retirement is sadly missing. Employment offers purposefulness, recognition of competence, meaningfulness, belonging, an ordering of time.
Retirement changes all that.
As it is today, many retired persons must structure their time largely on an ad hoc basis, often leaving them with the feelings of being forgotten by society and useless. Being forgotten, left out of the mainstream of society and rendered useless describes again that sense of marginalization. The gospel addresses marginalization. The gospel bridges distances of time and role and status by creating a new unity. The gospel affirms human dignity and orders time as God's redeemed past, providential present and anticipated future.