Michelle Van Loon - Becoming Sage: Cultivating Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife

We have so often focused our attention on millennials and the church while failing to attend to the significant realities surrounding discipleship in midlife. In this gem of a book, Michelle Van Loon issues an important wake-up call to the church to cultivate and support lifelong discipleship as she invites us to consider the particular issues being navigated by those in midlife. A powerful antidote to formulaic and quick-fix discipleship, Becoming Sage is a must-read for all in ministry and all in midlife as it calls us to nourish slow-growth disciples who can bear fruit in each season of life.

KRISTEN DEEDE JOHNSON

Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs; professor of Theology and Christian Formation, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI

Im old, depending on whos counting, so Becoming Sage spoke to me. Michelle Van Loon parses the realities of these yearsspiritual, emotional, physical, and social. As Michelle points out, most of us are much more familiar with the stages of the first half of life than the last. Especially interesting was her insight into how our walk with Christ naturally changes and how we can leverage this season for maximum wisdom and influencehow we can become sage and not just old.

LEE ECLOV

Pastor and author of Feels Like Home: How Rediscovering the Church as Family Changes Everything

Becoming Sage is a gift to people of faith in midlife, that disorienting time of reckoning that Michelle Van Loon so deftly describes. We are encouraged to continue on as she reminds us that maturity is not a destination, but a process that doesnt follow a tidy trajectory. Humorous, honest, and wise, Michelle is just the guide many of us need as we move through the second half of life. The prompts for reflection at the end of every chapter are much more nuanced and helpful than the norm. I look forward to journaling through each one.

JENNIFER GRANT

Author of When Did Everybody Else Get So Old?: Indignities, Compromises, and the Unexpected Grace of Midlife and Maybe God Is Like That Too

In light of almost one third of the population moving into midlife, the church needs guidelines as to how to move on to maturity and to not waste what can be, by Gods grace, the most impactful and effective season of our life in advancing the kingdom of God. Michelle Van Loon has provided much-needed wisdom as to how to maneuver through the second half of life.

NANCY J. KANE

Author of Stages of the Soul: Gods Invitation to Greater Wisdom and coauthor of From Fear to Love: Overcoming Obstacles to Healthy Relationships

Becoming Sage is for all of us who are famished, who long for sense amid so much Christian nonsense. In this book, Michelle Van Loon reveals just how sage she is. And if we heed her wisdom, it will rub off on us. I want to stick this book into the hands of every pastor, church leader, and seminary professor. Its that valuable. Apprentice yourself to Michelles God-given wisdom; I have.

MARLENA GRAVES

Author of the forthcoming The Way Up Is Down

Most of us hope to grow wise as we grow old. But merely acquiring more biblical information or attending more church gatherings doesnt automatically lead to wisdom. In Becoming Sage, Michelle has given us reliable guidance for the journey of maturing in our life with God. In it, she provides a vision for a lifetime of transformation.

GEM AND ALAN FADLING

Founders of Unhurried Living and authors of What Does Your Soul Love?: Eight Questions That Reveal Gods Work in You

Midlife can be a confusing and disorienting period. Too many enter these years unprepared, resulting in painful wandering or stalled maturity. Michelle Van Loon argues that it doesnt have to be this way. She has thought much and thought well about midlife. Michelle writes as a sagea trustworthy guide through this vital stage.

ERIC SCHUMACHER

Coauthor of Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women

There are so many opportunities to pursue in midlife. One is the invitation to become sagespiritually and emotionally matureintentionally drawing closer to God and His ways. If thats something you long for, this book will help you get there.

JILL SAVAGE

Author of Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering Gods Best for Your Next

As our churches focus on youth, studies show theres a quiet mass exodus of midlifers out the back door. What are we missing? Michelle Van Loon shows us. With her characteristic brilliance and insight, she unpacks this little-known movement, then guides usand the churchon a solid path toward the wisdom and spiritual maturity God calls all of us to. I personally feel freed from the twin evils of chasing youth and fearing old age. Instead, Im aiming to become sage.

LESLIE LEYLAND FIELDS

Author of Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing and Living the Truth of Your Life

When empty nest and job transition and location change all collided, I looked for a wise voice to guide me forward and came up short. Becoming Sage is exactly what I was looking for. With Michelle Van Loon as our seasoned guide, this book needs to be in the hands of everyone at midlife and beyond.

ANITA LUSTREA

Host of Faith Conversations podcast, spiritual director, media coach

Michelle Van Loon introduces us to a veritable whos who as she winds her way through the gifts and realities of becoming a sage. Drawing upon earthy biblical characters; wise, modern guides; as well as her own personal journey, she gives hope, vision, and purpose to this culminating season. You will feel that you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who not only see you but also understand you as you move irresistibly toward the full flowering of your one, particular life.

DAVID BOORAM

Coauthor of When Faith Becomes Sight: Opening Your Eyes to Gods Presence All Around You; Director of Fall Creek Abbey

In this wise and welcome field guide, Michelle Van Loon casts a vision for what our lives might look like if we refuse to settle and instead use the many challenges, losses, and disappointments of midlife as traction to keep growing. Becoming Sage not only empowers us to flourish todayit infuses us with hope for our future.

DOROTHY LITTELL GRECO

Author of Making Marriage Beautiful: Lifelong Love, Joy, and Intimacy Start with You and the forthcoming Marriage in the Middle

2020 by
MICHELLE VAN LOON

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.