I am almost seventy-five and have “retired” three times, none of the retirements were my plan, but looking back I can see God’s hand all over my path.
In 2009, I was “retired” in a downsizing. I did not plan to retire, but it launched my consulting career. That change was a blessing I would have never received without that “retirement.”
A few years later my wife Linda fell and broke her shoulder. I stop working and became a nurse/ homemaker for six months. The experience gave me a new appreciation for what Linda had done for decades. It is true that home making work is never done😊
After she healed, I was offered a consulting job that lasted eight years with a team of committed Christians in the Leadership of the company. Working with other believers was another amazing blessing from the Lord.
Earlier in 2022 I mentioned in a Leadership meeting at that company that I was approaching seventy-five and would not be there forever. Within two months, they decided how to get the work done without me and I “retired” again. The next week Linda had a kidney stone attack, and she was in the hospital for four days. After that experience they scheduled her for a lithotripsy to break up the stone.
While I was in the waiting room during her lithotripsy, I got a call from our youngest son. He was in the hospital with major kidney issues. Once he was home, I help transport him to dialysis for a few weeks. He was not getting better, and he ended up in Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. I drove back and forth from Kalamazoo to Detroit for a couple of weeks. He lost his battle with kidney failure after about a six-week battle. It was a tough time, but I could not have been there in his life-ending journey if I were working. A blessing that was hard, but a blessing just the same.
Two of my close friends are nearing retirement. They both are asking the question…what is next? I started pondering the question and it took me back to a message I heard years ago about the four stages of life; 0 to 20 figuring out who you are, 20 to 40 building your family and career, 40 to 60 settled in life direction and into the empty nest, 60 on what they called a “statesman”.
This made me realize we have all asked this question before. I have two 18-year-old grandsons asking the question right now. What am I going to do to support myself? Should I go to college or start my career? How will I know when I find the right girl to spend my life with?
When we reach the end of the second stage, often the question is how to release children to their adulthood and what to do in the empty nest. We were part of a homeschool community. My wife and other moms not only had an empty nest, but their teaching career suddenly ended at the same time. A common question was, “Who am I and what do I do now?”
The end of a working career is the end of stage three. Currently we are seeing people live into their 80’s or more bringing back the question…now what. So, I asked myself what did “statesman” mean in the message I heard years ago? Google says a statesman is, “a wise, respected leader.”
When I look back at my career-ending journeys, I find peace in knowing God has always had a plan. He still has things for me to do in His Kingdom. The things He has brought me through in my 75 years have given me the knowledge and ability to do what He wants me to do in His Kingdom and be that “wise, respected leader”. I also find more time to “be still and listen to His voice.” Time to ponder questions like…then what.
I have concluded the thought of retirement should better be looked at as an opportunity for change. As a recruiter for decades, I learned to ask candidates what they enjoy doing when the are not working. It goes along with one of my favorite quotes. “Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” My question to my retiring friends is what do you love to do? The best part of ending your working career is you do not have to do the same thing over and over for decades. You can change your focus anytime.
I believe the fourth stage in life should be furthering the Kingdom by doing what you love. Looking over my shoulder, I have seen God’s Hand guiding my path. I have total faith He will continue to do so. I am enjoying letting Him “be in the driver’s seat.” Being His passenger, on His team, and at His call is very freeing. Let go and let God😊
Christian Life Coach 