William Z. Shetter

The experience of long life and spiritual fruits of aging are the focus of this meditative walk through eighty-five years of William Shetter's life experience: among Friends, in relationship, as an ongoing seeker and keen observer of the world. Reflections on death, impermanence, and increasing physical limitation are leavened with humor and a sense of play. These thoughts on family, wisdom, humor, spiritual community, and the presence of God bring to the reader a distinctively Quaker show more perspective on the patterns of life and aging. show less

The experience of long life and spiritual fruits of aging are the focus of this meditative walk through 85 years of the author's life experiences: among Friends, in relationship, as an ongoing seeker and keen observer of the world.

This is a very pleasant collection of the thoughts and questions of a long-time Friend on several topics related to aging and spiritual maturity. There is wisdom and insight here, as well as acute observation and conclusion. You can read a chunk of this at a time; this could be good bed-time reading.

The front matter states that Shetter is a member of Bloomington Monthly Meeting (OVYM), which leads me to speculate that he is the author of numerous books on the Netherlands: its history and its language, and that he is a past professor at Indiana University.

I was disappointed in this pamphlet. It is wholly composed of thoughts (I won't say "random" since he has put them into a semblance of order) on his experience of aging. With a bit more work (and an editor?) I think it could have been show more woven into a powerful essay on "aging well" to stand next to Morrison's pamphlets and books.

Perhaps Shetter will take another stab at writing for us at ninety. I am interested to hear, even if it is only thoughts! show less