Reluctant Retiree

I have always tested very high in the introvert spectrum of personality and leadership tests. I recognize that I am an introvert and am okay with that. Even though our society values extrovert personalities, occasionally the introvert mindset is needed.

Occasionally I can go too deep into an introvert mindset. I begin to feel like I don’t need others to be strong and happy. I forget what other people and relationships add to my life. Then I try to live life on my own terms. This path only leads to loneliness and frustration.

In Ecclesiastes Solomon wrote: “Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

I need good relationships with other people to be strong and effective. We need each other. Let’s quit pretending that we can do it alone and acknowledge the good that others contribute to our lives.

I remember waiting to be chosen for a team when I was a kid. The stress of waiting anxiously as one player after another was selected. The anxiety was followed by joy when I was finally chosen. Fortunately, in those days everyone was eventually selected. After selection, however, came the assignment of positions and possibly disappointment with my assignment. Fortunately, I loved to play catcher and most of the other kids didn’t, so I usually got that job. Some kids inevitably had to play right field or sit on the bench.

What about the game of Life? Are we all chosen? If we are chosen, will we be disappointed with our role? Ephesians 1:3-6 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

To answer the questions posed at the beginning of the previous paragraph; no, we are not all chosen, only those who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation are chosen. We will not be disappointed by our role, because He has given us every spiritual blessing and, most importantly, adoption as His children. He has also given us each a role and purpose according to His glorious grace. That is a team worthy of our complete support and dedication.

Today we watched one grandson play high school football and tomorrow we will watch another grandson play baseball. It is always good to support our grandchildren in whatever they enjoy doing. Our family has always been a sports family, with kids and grandchildren playing a variety of sports. We’ve also enjoyed drama, ballet, singing, robotics competitions and other performances, not just sports.

Children can learn a lot participating in team sports. They can learn discipline, selflessness, dedication and hard work. But one of the most important things to learn from sports is teamwork, working together to become a productive and efficient unit. Great sports teams have exhibited tremendous unity on their way to success. Teamwork does not come naturally, it must be encouraged by the leader and worked at by all team members.

One of the last things that Jesus did before His crucifixion was to encourage unity amongst His disciples. First, He washed the disciples’ feet. By this He demonstrated that humility is required for unity. Jesus also prayed that the disciples would be unified as one, just like the Father and Jesus are one. John 17:11 records part of His prayer when it says, “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” This type of unity cannot be generated from within us. We must rely on the Father to keep us and give us love for one another.

It is about time that we see this type of love and unity from the followers of Jesus Christ. Let it begin with you and me!

Millennials criticize Baby Boomers for fashion choices and archaic thinking. Baby Boomers criticize any younger generation for selfishness and outlandish behavior. Generations X,Y,and Z criticize attack both Generations for almost everything. All these judgments, however, are based only on social norms and preferences within each generation. The criticisms are superficial and, therefore, meaningless.

God set the standards for real impactful assessments. Romans 14:17-19 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” God judges the hearts of men. Righteousness, peace, and joy are acceptable. Boasting, self-righteousness, and tearing down others is not acceptable. Therefore, we must pursue peace with others and do our best to build others up, rather than bringing them down to our own low standards.

I love to eat fruit, almost every kind of fruit. I pretty much eat some fruit at every meal and for snacks. Fruit has helped me lose weight and get control of my blood sugar levels. My doctor, however, has warned me about eating too much fruit. It seems that fruit has enough sugar in it to be dangerous in the large quantities that I eat.

Don’t we tend to overdo a lot of good things. We receive some benefits from something and get carried away with it. People have started to exercise and feel healthy, so they do more exercise. They become obsessed with it, overdo it, and wind up injuring themselves. Or some other people may start a short term diet to lose a little weight, but they go way beyond their original intentions and threaten their health. And other people become obsessed with their jobs after a little success.

The writer of Proverbs 30 makes two requests of God when he writes: “O God, I beg two favors from you before I die. First, help me never to lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” The writer acknowledges that we are prone to forget God if we have too much. He also acknowledges that we are inclined to take matters into our own hands if we don’t have our needs met.

God will provide for our needs. Let’s be thankful for that and content in what He gives us.