Amy Grant Is Finding Her Way Back After 2022 Bike Accident

You’ve talked about how physical healing requires you to be emotionally grounded. How do you manage that?

I wait until the stillness finds me. I have a daily ritual of connecting to myself. I have a cup of coffee and stand with my bare feet on the grass. I welcome myself to the day. Less than a week ago, I was so upset about something, but I went outside in the grass that night … and I sat there in silence, but I could see that I was a tiny part of a big picture. And I stayed until I felt peace.

You have been deeply involved in philanthropy. Was there a moment you can recall when that instinct developed?

When I was 10 years old, my family went to Sarasota, Florida, and my mother gave me four quarters for my allowance. There was a fantastic five-and-dime that sold sea monkeys. But we started attending a church there, and I knew it was important to tithe. When they passed the collection plate, I had those four quarters in my pocket, and I was, like, ­“Grrrrrr.” It was a fight, but I put one of those quarters in the plate. And that afternoon I was on the diving board at the pool, and I saw something shining on the bottom. I dove down, and it was a quarter. I felt like there was a puzzle in the universe and that I was connected.

Connection is important in your life. What can we do about the epidemic of loneliness, especially in older people?

Establishing some sort of community is essential, whether it’s finding a church community or a YMCA community or an AA community. Nobody does anything big by themselves. As we get older, some things fade, understandably, but problem-solving actually increases. To me, the adventure is connecting need and surplus. I love gathering in purposeful community. The best we can give each other is our presence, actually showing up for one another.

What’s the best way to motivate ourselves?

My first mother-in-law taught me a prayer. She said, “Lord, lead me today to those I need and those that need me.” I said, “Man, what a way to approach a day: ‘Lead me to those I need and those that need me.’ ”

We live in very polarized times. What gives you hope?

What I have said for decades is that I can’t control anyone else’s choices, but I can control mine. We have to be intentional with the life that we have. One great thing about being in your 60s is that you no longer feel the pressure to make your mark in life. So I’m looking at other people my age and saying if we want to see change, it has to be our generation that does it. We’re in the perfect place. We’ve done what it is we’re going to do, but we’re not dead yet!