Planning, Passion, and Purpose
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
My wife is retiring at the end of May. I’ve been pondering how she will do it meaningfully and how I will follow suit one day in the future. Rather than stress about our life change as she moves to this new phase of our lives, I’ve decided to plan and evaluate. The first step in retiring with faith is to end well. Jill is doing a beautiful job running through the tape. She is working hard to get every detail in place so her replacement will have a good transition and can hit the ground running.
I’ve heard from other retirees that the suddenness of no longer having the same responsibilities is shocking. In her article “The Trick to Being Happy in Retirement,” Kim Kelly Stamp offers guidance. Stamp says, “Happiness is like a bonfire: It takes work to ignite and watchful tending to keep it burning.” Retirement is a transition; we should not view it as an ending.
Stamp continues, “Bonfires are mesmerizing-the rhythm of the flames, the crackle and snap of the wood, and the warm glow they cast on the faces of those gathered around them.” Retirement is often a goal, and being close to achieving it feels like a shiny victory. While retirement can be an accomplishment worth celebrating, it comes with new challenges. Friends have joked that retirement simply replaces your office with the doctor’s office. There is some truth in the irony. Acceptance is also an essential part of retirement. Planning for life’s continued challenges allows for a healthy future.
Today, whether you are 20 or 80, keep your bonfire burning. Fires require oxygen, and a fiery, passionate soul is stoked by the Holy Spirit breathed into us daily. The Holy Spirit’s fuel is necessary at each stage of life. Planning, passion, and purpose reignite our souls at every stage of life. Pray, dream, and work through each stage of life, especially in retirement. Even in retirement, we should not rest on our laurels but renew our call to live our lives in God’s holy name. My wife is a faithful person who loves to plan. So, we might enjoy her retirement after all.