Let evening come

by Mary Chase Morrison

In this daring yet gently written reflection on aging, eighty-seven-year-old Mary C. Morrison considers the sources of strength and dignity that truly allow people to grow old gracefully, and to retain a joy for life. Morrison writes about the process of aging with humor and sensitivity. She does not ignore the difficulties that old age brings, but instead emphasizes the benefits of peace, balance, and perspective that come with it. She shows how the gradual movement away from the center of work, family, and community can be a blessing in disguise and how one can feel renewed, instead of made powerless, by old age. Inspired by the Quaker view of life, "Let Evening Come" helps the reader recognize that although aging requires great courage, the source for that gallantry is found in the human spirit.