Reflections on Retirement One Year Later

One year ago I was experiencing the first new school year in many years that didn’t include me. Summer had ended and I had no classroom to prepare and organize, no student names to learn and write on numerous tags and labels, no meetings, no documents to submit, no Meet the Teacher Night, and no colleagues with whom to gather and collaborate. I had a major case of FOMO (fear of missing out) and was pretty sad. I would get emotional at the sight of a school bus. Children who looked about the age of a first grader made me yearn for a classroom full of them. I was questioning my decision to retire at every turn. Now, a year later, I have been absolutely fine without the extra stress and demanding schedule. I still miss teaching and seeing my fellow educators, so I substitute once in a while. It’s taken a while to settle in to what I want retirement to look like.

The thing is, I don’t think I can just define my retirement and that’s how it will be. Just like the rest of my life has been, my retirement years are going to be everchanging, based on my interests, opportunities, abilities and where God leads. One thing I know for sure: It will not be a permanent vacation with no responsibilities. We are called to higher things than that. I did a little research–well, actually I just Googled it–and learned that retirement was created in the 1880’s in Prussia. Prior to that, I guess everyone just worked until they died. So, of course, the concept of retirement is found nowhere in the Bible. But what God’s Word teaches me applies to life before, during and after a career. And, ultimately, my mission never changes.

Certainly there is nothing wrong with earning the privilege of ending years of labor in a job or career and being relieved of the daily grind. This frees us up for other things, but what are the other things? The temptation may be to take it easy now that my career of thirty+ years has ended. And I do sometimes. Taking the time to read a book in the afternoon or just meet a friend for coffee is lovely. Many retirees like to travel and I hope to do a bit of that as well. I may take up a new hobby or rekindle some past-times of days gone by. These are all fine and exciting, but I am called to even greater things. I saw a quote recently by author Andy Farmer that reads, “Vocation in the later years of life is more about who you are than what you do.” This really resonated with me. This past year has offered me the opportunity to really consider who I am and what my purpose is. God’s Word reminds me of my calling. I am called to be reverent in how I live and to teach what is good to younger women (Titus 2:3-5). My desire is to proclaim the power of God to the next generation and tell of all His mighty acts in my life (Psalm 71:18). I am called to go and bear much fruit–fruit that will last (John 15:16). Regardless of age, those of us who are Christ followers are God’s handiwork, created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). There are many vehicles with which I can pursue these goals: perhaps volunteering my time in a ministry or social cause, spending intentional time with friends, neighbors or former colleagues, pouring into the lives of my children and grandchildren. I know for certain that I am called to spend more time in prayer, interceding for the many needs of others and for the salvation of the those who are lost.

Having a more flexible schedule has been such a blessing. I answer only to God and I pleasure to spend more time with Him and then touch other people’s lives because of Him. That first year of feeling a little lost and unsure of my decision to leave a successful career has passed and I look forward to hopefully many years ahead during which I can pursue other passions and live out my ultimate purpose here on earth–to share Jesus with others.

You may be a fellow retiree or perhaps it is still far off, but it will quickly approach. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, be sure to firmly identify yourself as a child of God first and foremost. That will never change and your job description is permanent. Devote yourself to reading the training manual for life–God’s Word. Take the time to dwell in His presence and pour out your heart to Him in prayer. Do this until you value and cherish this time so much that missing a day causes your heart to ache. In the end, my retirement plans are really just to live up to this passage from Psalm 92: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.'” (Psalm 92:12-15)