Reluctant Retiree

I grew up in Southern California, where very few homes had basements. Now I live in Indiana where basements are pretty much standard. So I am learning about basement living. On the negative side, basements are usually cold and lonely places. On the positive side, basements are quiet places where you can find peace and be able to think clearly. The colder feel is a significant benefit in summer.

In a figurative sense, Jesus calls us to the basement life. We should seek solitude daily to spend time with Him in prayer, meditation, and reading scripture. We will receive peace in the quiet solitude of our conversations with Jesus. He also calls us to possess a lowly spirit. Jesus described Himself as “gentle and lowly in spirit.” A lowly spirit is one that forsakes pride to serve others. It doesn’t seek attention from others, but rather seeks to honor them.

Proverbs 29:23 says, “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” God despises pride because it turns us away from trusting Him. Therefore pride ultimately destroys the prideful person. On the other hand, God will honor the lowly in spirit one who serves God and man. Our pride is difficult to put away, but holding onto it brings disastrous consequences. Giving God the honor that is due to Him, keeps us safe and secure under His grace and strength.

Like many people, I have watched some of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, otherwise known as March Madness. I can’t help but be amazed at the amazing skills and athleticism of these athletes. Most have innate abilities that have been fine tuned by knowledgeable coaches and trainers. They are fully committed to perform at their best and reach their goal of a national championship.

Are you and I as committed to reaching our goals? Have we trained sufficiently and practiced the skills necessary? Have we consulted with the right experts to learn how to make the best of our efforts?

Doing all these things is good, but if these things are all we do, we are missing the point of life. Our eyes are horizontally focused, when they should be vertically directed. We must recognize that God gave us the innate abilities that we possess. He placed us under knowledgeable coaches and counselors. He gives us the power to progress to the next level. He even guides the circumstances that lead us to do well and provide benefits.

The apostle Paul was a wise, learned, and fanatically trained man. He is credited with bringing the gospel to most of the known world during his lifetime. He wrote much of the New Testament. Yet, he also penned these words in II Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” A defining attribute of Christians is our dependency upon God. We recognize that any good thing comes from Him and not by our own efforts. When good things are produced, we must remember to praise God, the source of power to do good.

After a natural disaster strikes relief teams come in to assist victims. Generally there are at least two phases to disaster relief work. First, rapid response teams come in to clear the damages and make the areas safe. Then sometime later teams come in to rebuild what was lost.

My wife and I have served on disaster relief teams in both phases. Since I am not skilled in construction, I work better in the rapid response phase. I am able to remove sheetrock, flooring, and damaged personal property.

Unfortunately, I find that my personality and words are also better at destruction rather than construction. It is easy for me to find something to complain about or someone to criticize. Speaking to tear down is my natural bent. Based on listening to other people speak, I am sure that I am not the only person with this verbal tendency. It is only by really listening to others and asking God to guard my mouth that I have experienced growth in this area. He is helping me to speak gently and seek to encourage others.

I Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” If we can lift the countenance of other people through encouraging words, we are building a better world for all of us. There is already far too much bickering and complaining in our world. Let us ask God to guard our mouths and give us gentle and encouraging words to speak.

I was unable to do my normal hiking this morning due to the rain. Instead, I walked on the treadmill, not as much fun, but beneficial nonetheless. The rain has continued all morning, but it has been a gentle rain. This kind of rain benefits the ground bringing the nutrients it needs to produce grass and crops. It also makes for a cozy and peaceful Saturday.

Moses compared his speech to this type of rain, when he said, “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!” Moses desired that his speech would be gentle and benefit his listeners.

What a difference this kind of talk would make in our world! Families would be transformed by the absence of accusations and criticism. The Business world would be radically altered by promotion of good ideas and the cancelation of harsh competition. Politics could focus on the exchange of beneficial ideas in the absence of backbiting and name calling. Harmony is developed by the gentle exchange of uplifting words. Let’s begin a movement by using encouraging words instead of venting our frustration. Perhaps we can even offer some praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for the gentle rain and uplifting speech.

I was a teenager during the 60s and was caught up in the Peace Movement of those days. The country was split over our involvement in the Vietnam War. People displayed the peace symbol on clothing, bumper stickers, and tattoos. Yet protests and demonstrations often turned violent. The cry for peace was drowned out by division and violence.

If we are to advocate for peace, it must begin with inner peace within individuals. How can we find a broad peace when we argue with neighbors, retail workers, fellow drivers on the highway, and authorities? First, let us examine ourselves and see if we consistently contribute to peace wherever we go. Or do our attitudes and actions promote discord and chaos.

Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” Thus, He said that division, within any group even a small group like family, will inevitably lead to destruction. Individuals must find inner peace so that they can contribute to the broader peace of the group.

But inner peace is hard to come by. Our selfish desires get in the way. Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Inner peace begins with the surrender of ourselves to God. He transforms us into instruments of peace by giving us His supernatural peace. Let’s begin a new peace movement today by surrendering to God’s peace.