Reluctant Retiree

Do you ever ask yourself How did I get here? I do all the time. It is part of my pensive nature, I guess. The question is most often directed to a situation rather than a location. For example I may find myself in a deep discussion with a group of people when the question arises in my mind. I am not wondering how I got to the location but how I got involved in this discussion with this group of people.

Most of the situations we find ouselves in are largely due to our choices. We choose to do this or that and wind up where we find ourselves. Oh I understand that outside forces can influence our situation but often times those outside forces are also a result of our choices.

So we better make good choices so that they lead us to good situations and not harmful ones. The only way to consistently make good choices is to have a good heart, because these choices come out of the heart. The only way to have a good heart is to surrender it completely to the only truly good and holy source, Jesus Christ. Giving your heart to anyone else or anything else will not take you where you want to go. Proverbs 20:11 says, “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.”

Colors reveal the vibrancy of life. Sometimes I marvel at the sharpness and fullness of color. I like to observe the green of the tree leaves contrasted with the blue sky. I am delighted with the many colors of various fruit on my plate. Recently, one of my favorite colors has been the rich royal blue of the sky at the first touch of the sunrise.

The variety of colors reminds me how different we all are. We are each an original painting of vibrant colors. These colors reflect our experiences, our values, our families, our beliefs and ultimately our hearts.

Who we are today is impacted by all these factors and more. But ultimately we are God’s creation and reflect his design for us. Psalm 139:13-17 says, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, Oh God! How vast is the sum of them!”

Being a grandpa is one of the noblest positions of life. My wife and I have six grandkids (three grandsons and three granddaughters), five of whom live closeby. They all call me “Papa” and I love to hear that named called to me. They range in age from one to twenty.

When the oldest two were young, they used to call me the Papa who plays with us. I would regularly get down on the floor and play Legos with them. Actually they would build and I would just find the pieces they wanted. We played tons of games on the floor as well. My favorite memory is meeting them someplace and they would run to me with arms wide yelling “Papa!” We’ve taken them to science exhibits, the beach for a few days, and to the park. All great fun. We’ve gone to watch their ballgames, concerts, recitals and plays. Again, great fun!

We’ve rejoiced with them in their happy times and wept with them in their sadness. They are our beloved grandchildren.

Did you know that God takes even greater delight in those who love him? The Bible says that heaven rejoices when someone places their trust in him. God is preparing a great celebration and feast for the time when believers are gathered to him in heaven. If you are in Christ, you are the Father’s beloved as part of the body of Christ. If you haven’t yet given yourself in trust to Jesus, don’t wait.

This seems to an age of fear. The pandemic has caused many people to face their own mortality. People are afraid of what the virus can do to their health, including death. Civil unrest adds to the growing uncertainty of these days. The coming election raises suspicions and doubts about the future.

All of these situations create fear within us. Fear is debilitating. We are strangled with indecision. We are worried about our health, our families, and our future. What can be done to alleviate our fears and set us on a new path of hope.

The Bible says that perfect love casts out fear. Think about that. Even in human relationships, where there is love, there is joy and hope without fear. How much more so when we are secure in the steadfast love of God! Then we know that all things are possible and he is our defense. We know that he is a shield about us and a rock that we can depend upon, no matter the circumstances that beset us.

God is good and he gives good gifts to those who put their trust in him. Jeremiah 29:11 gives this promise to God’s people, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Unlike people, God is trustworthy and will always fulfill his promise. Trust Him today.

Before my operation the other day, they had to shave my chest and back. Since I am pretty hairy, the nurse wasn’t too excited about it.

She wasn’t thrilled, but neither was I. I knew that I was going to pay in the coming days. The resultant itch and skin irritation has set in. Lotion helps but clothes still rub and aggravate the itch. It is always there.

The famous scientist Pascal said that we all have a God shaped vacuum inside. I liken this to a bad itch. We do many things to fill the vacuum, or get rid of the itch. We try acquiring riches and things to fill the void, but they don’t satisfy. Some try alcohol or drugs but find themselves with a bigger whole. Others try sex to fill the void but just add to their unease with bigger problems.

How can the vacuum be filled? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.” The vacuum can only be filled by believing in Jesus.

Yesterday I was in the hospital to have a cardiac ablation. This was to correct a periodic rapid heartbeat. The procedure starts with the doctor inserting a camera into a vein to see where the problem is. Then they inject something into you to start a rapid heartbeat to help detect the electrical shortcircuit. Unfortunately, my heart kept self-correcting so they couldn’t find the problem area.

Failing that, they put a loop recorder under my skin near the heart. The idea is that this recorder will detect and report any abnormal heartbeats, helping the doctor determine the problem and then correct it.

All that is greast and I am amazed at the technology. However, I wonder why this technology has not been developed for other areas of our lives.

Why isn’t there a relationship loop recorder that identifies and reports internally the dumb things I say or do that hurt relationships? Then I could try to correct these mistakes and make amends. How about a financial loop recorder that detects potentally harmful financial mistakes before they are made? What about an internal lie detector to warn me about potential lies I am getting ready to speak?

Why can’t I find a spiritual loop recorder that will keep me from making wrong choices and taking me on a path from from where I want to go? Ah but God has given us one of those spiritual loop recorders. It is called the Word of God, the Bible. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” There you have it, God’s true spiritual loop recorder.

Where I live, the grass is already turning brown and leaves are already falling off trees. It seems awfuly early to me and it is still hot outside.

In some ways this is just the natural cycle of things. It happens every year. In other ways it strikes me how easily life turns to death. Even things that seem to be truly healthy can waste away quickly.

Jesus spoke about how this cycle can actually be reversed. His illustration was about the mustard seed. He said unless a seed is placed in the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit. Later he declared that unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God.

Peter wrote about this new birth when he wrote, “since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” I Peter 1:23. So unless we are willing to give our lives completely to Jesus, we cannot obtain new life that is imperishable.

It has always intrigued me to watch the political conventions, hear the grandiose claims, and the see the polls reflect public opinion. Every four years after the first convention that party sees a significant increase in public approval. That higher ranking lasts until the other party’s convention and public approval swings the other way. So despite the millions of dollars spent to hold these conventions the net change in public approval is minimal.

Speeches at both conventions seem true and right. They espouse positive ideals and generate enthusiasm for their parties. High accolades come from some reviewers while others are highly critical. Strong emotions often distort the original messages and the reviews. Who’s right?

Both and neither! All have some ideas that are true and some statements that are not true. Why?

I think it is because they are drawing from the wrong sources. They are drawing from their own biases and limited understanding. So sometimes they are right, at least partially, and sometimes they are wrong, usually substantially.

We’ve got to go back to the source of knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” God is the source of true wisdom and knowledge.

I have tripped over raised sidewalks three times recently. One time I fell onto grass and was unhurt. The other two times I fell onto the sidewalk and skinned myself up quite a bit. Obviously I need to pay more attention to my steps.

My life has been a series of twists and turns. Sometimes the path is smooth and at other times the ground is uneven, requiring much care. Sometimes there are many roads to choose from and I struggle with the choices.

How do we know where to take the next step? Sometimes we just have to wait for direction. Other times I have to take one step forward to be able to see the next step. How we make these choices is important?

It always works out best for me if first I look for guidance in God’s Word, the Bible. While it may not specifically address my choice, it will always speak to how I make the choice and on what basis I should choose. That gives me confidence to make the right choices.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Mood rings were popular many years ago. The rings supposedly revealed your mood by displaying different colors. The movie “Inside Out” took the idea a little further by showing various feelings in different colors as they battled for control of a person.

I have often thought that people should dress in different uniforms according to their moods. It would be helpful for interpersonal relationships. We would instantly know to tread lightly with the person dressed in red, because they are angry. If they are in green we would know that they are envious, and so on. For those of us who are clueless, at times, this kind of obvious help would make things much easier.

Unfortunately these signals are not available to us. So how do we know how to interact on a case by case basis. There is one relationship tool that always works, selfless love. If we seek to give selfless love in all relationships, these relationships will grow into things of beauty.

I Peter 4:9 says, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”