James Stark (minister of Belmont Congregational Church: Ireland). Life Stages: Their Duties and Opportunities. Aberdeen: printed by G. & W. Fraser. 1889.

Chapters in place: "The Child," "The Husband," "Middle-Life," "Old Age," and "The End Which Is The Beginning" - see chapter markers to the right.

I love to take pictures of flowers. They are a colorful and bright example of life that replenishes from year to year. It is impressive how God has a reason for everything and yet adds a kiss of beauty to all that has purpose. A plant, though, does not always stay in bloom. The flower has to wither away to allow a seed to mature. There is a part of seeing a flower die that makes its beauty feel inconsequential. Yet it is God Himself who chose to dress the fields in wild flowers with more splendid than even Solomon (Luke 12:27).

Self-indulgently, I started this work with the life stage of "Middle Life" (please click on "Middle Life" on the right side of the page to view this chapter) as this was the subject most needed personally. Thankfully, the topic provided me with much needed and desired discussion. Truly, it feels as if a grandfather has come back to teach me.

Many who act as my teachers and mentors are equally curious about the material written for "Old Age." Please click on "Old Age" on the right side of this page to read about this life stage as written by James Stark in 1889. I found the chapter enlightening and appreciated the list of activities recommended for people at this particular point of their adventure. Some day it will be my honor to work through this list, if God grants the blessing of living into this life stage.

            I have a goal to add a chapter each month to this blog, until the book is complete. Does anyone have a recommendation as to which chapter I should work on next?  Many blessings,- Kimberlae.

Middle Life

My husband (Alan) and I (Kimberlae) have 'hit' middle life.

Neither of us have parents or grandparents alive to act a guide and to my dismay - there are libraries of books on toddlers, difficult teenagers, alcoholism, and blended families - there is a very limited amount of teaching material to counsel adults through middle life which has created for me a... 'mid-life crisis.'

I have both prayed and ranted on this problem for several years.

On a trip to see my son (Phillip) and daughter-in-law (Daniella), for $3 I found in a thrift store a hard cover book written in 1889 by James Stark called "Life's Stages."

As I am specifically in the mid-life stage... I have started at Middle Life with this discussion and only have this single chapter available. Click "Middle Life" on the right side of this page to read that chapter written by James Stark over 120 years ago. The language is often elegant, sometimes difficult, and written specifically for men. Yet, the content is exquisite. As I listen to these words, it sounds to me as if a grandfather is directly acing as guide and counsel in my life.

I would like to use these words as a spring board for the greater community to use for discussion, to teach each other.