The Soulful Power of “Watering Holes”

Robbye Jarrell, Lenbrook Chaplain
April 6, 2016

By the time someone reaches their 80’s and 90’s, they have seen a lot of life. The ups and the downs. The good and the bad. Elders’ life experiences truly cover the full spectrum. How do souls survive and thrive such a varied terrain?

It’s been my observation that for souls to weather this thing we call life, they need to be rooted and grounded in relationships. In particular, relationships with:

God
Other people
And themselves

The other day, here at Lenbrook, I recalled the words of my seminary professor who said: “To feed your flock, you have to go to their watering holes.” The term “watering hole” resonated in my mind. I thought, “Where are the ‘watering holes’ here at Lenbrook, where we tend to our relationships?”

I see “watering holes” when residents gather to walk the paths of our Plaza Gardens. I see them in the camaraderie of our yoga and tai chi classes. I see “watering holes” in our Saturday Tea Dances and ballroom dancing classes. I see them in the laughter of the residents who gather together every Friday afternoon in our library and living room areas for fun and fellowship.

And while Lenbrook is not formally affiliated with or supported by a religious organization, we offer many types of “watering holes” to feed the souls. These watering holes include:

On Tuesday nights, residents gather for Vespers.
Once a month, on a Friday evening, residents come together for a Shabbat Service.
Three times a month, our Catholic residents share communion.
Thursday mornings, residents gather for a men’s prayer group.
Thursday mornings, residents gather for the Women’s Bible Study.
And our Meditation Room is open to all residents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Yes, there are many watering holes here in our community. And wherever a watering hole is, relationships are tended. In tending to these relationships, we gain the rich experience of what it means to “know and be known.”

For souls to survive, they must be in relationship…for relationships are indeed at the very heart of soul care.

Robbye Jarrell is a full-time chaplain at Lenbrook, providing support and counsel to residents in a multitude of ways. From conducting services on Sundays to coordinating Ecumenical community events, Robbye shares her spirit, joy and love of life with everyone at Lenbrook. She is an ordained Presbyterian Minister and serves on the Board of The Georgia Institute on Aging.