Retirement is a game-changer for many. A dear friend of mine retired a few years ago, and all was well for the first year. Projects that had been neglected for years were soon tackled one by one. But soon it came down to organizing the basement and all the tools.
Unfortunately, he took a serious fall and broke his wrist. A few weeks later, his water heater broke down, and he called me to ask if I could help replace it. Of course, I was more than eager to help my friend.
As I entered the basement to evaluate the water heater, I could not help but notice all the tools that were neatly organized on pegboards around the room. Wow. I was impressed. But then He said something that got my attention:” Retirement is great, but it gets a little challenging after the first year of finishing all the projects, organizing everything. What do I do next?”
That got me thinking about his situation and about others who retired and found no purpose; their work was their life. In many cases, they passed away within a few years. They could not adapt to the new environment before them. Their job represented purpose, and it was all they knew. Getting up at the same time every day, clocking in and out, bringing in that paycheck, and waiting for the weekend.
All of this reminds me of the season of changes. This winter was cold here in Virginia, and I thought spring might never arrive. It is May, and we still have to use our heater to knock off the chill in the mornings. But seeing spring arrive, insects coming to life, birds chirping, butterflies fluttering, grass growing, everything green, and much more is what I enjoy. It reminds me of the Psalm of David, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it…” (Psalms 24:1). Retirement should be a time of reflection, seeing what we have accomplished, and at the same time taking time to see the future… spring arrive, and acknowledging Him in all that we see, smell, and hear. “Make me hear and see bringing joy and gladness and be satisfied…” (Psalms 51:8)
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