Reluctant Retiree

Conflict is the order of the day on television. Politicians denigrate each other and refuse to consider the other side’s ideas. So called reality shows highlight deception, trickery, sordid scheming, and accusations. Then there is the news with its reports of violence of man against mankind.

Let’s change all that. I know, what can one person do? One person can change the environment around them. Then that change can be multiplied to the area surrounding the initially impacted environment. Let it start with you and me! For me, I will need God’s help to do this. So I am asking Him to help me; “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (II Corinthians 13:11) Join me in asking God to change us so we can be instruments of peace.

As I walked around the shopping center this morning, I noticed the very different posters displayed in neighboring stores. One store displayed pictures of models with huge smiles and a carefree appearance. The next store’s posters pictured people with very serious looks that appeared to me as scowls of arrogance.

Of course, I cannot say with any assurance what attitudes were really intended. If you look intently at the faces around you and in the media you will see the same dichotomy. Some people walk around with smiles on their faces and a carefree appearance. Others walk around with scowls on their faces and a forceful demeanor. They seem to be saying, “look at me because I am important.” We see this in sports as an athlete celebrates by pounding his chest and posing with that scowl for the camera. Music videos feature the same expression.

Of course, these are only my perceptions, but I wonder if we have gone too far with self-agrandizement. Do our facial expressions convey pride and self importance? Do our celebrations focus on our accomplishments and ignore the assistance provided by others or teammates?

Pride is a dangerous enemy. It slips in unnoticed and takes over our thoughts. It causes us to ignore the needs of others. It keeps us from acknowledging our need for God. II Corinthians 10:17-18 says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” Pride keeps us from God’s approval. Humility draws us close to Him.

I grew up in a large metropolitan area. So I don’t know much about the agricultural concerns of the area I now live in. I understand a few things simply by observation over the last several years. I learned when the farmers plant and harvest the corn. I have seen them rotate the crops from season to season. That is not much knowledge.

The people that Jesus spoke to knew a lot about farming, however. So Jesus used many illustrations about sowing seeds. From these illustrations and the authors of the New Testament we learn such truths as we can expect to reap the things we sow in our lives. If a farmer sows corn seeds, he expects to read corn. If I sow dishonesty and anger, I should expect to reap dishonesty and anger.

Paul puts it this way, “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8 We cannot obtain eternal life by continuing to sow selfishness, lust, greed,and hostility. Eternal life and salvation are received only by sowing faith in Jesus by grace.

Today I discovered yet another flaw in my thinking. I have been making decisions affected by my inward belief that I am not going to live much longer. I have no idea how much longer I have, but I also have no real indication that my death is imminent. Sure, I have some health issues. Who doesn’t at age 70? But none of these issues is of serious concern right now. So why don’t I want to commit to longer term service opportunities, purchases, or involvements?

God brings new opportunities and exciting adventures each day. I miss this things when I am unwilling to think past the immediate. I don’t know whether I have tomorrow, but I do know that God has given me life now. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” I am asking God to help me live each day in the fullest by living in the power of His Spirit and by faith in His Son. If I do that, I will not miss the adventures God has for me.

I took a physics class in both high school and college. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much from either class. I do remember a few properties of light, however. Light and darkness are mutually exclusive. When light comes, darkness flees. Some colors reflect light while other colors absorb light.

In the Bible, God and His truth are called light. Where God is, darkness cannot remain. Some people absorb God’s truth and let it shine through them. Others may only reflect His truth and don’t let it affect them in any way.

II Corinthians 4:6 says ,”For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of the darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ” To those who truly believe in Jesus and trust him as Lord and Savior, to those God has given His light to shine in the darkness all around us.

When we started to have children, many years ago, I wanted to make sure that I would fulfill every promise I made. I remembered being hurt when my parents did not or could not fulfill promises made to me. I didn’t want to inflict the same hurt upon my children.

Unfortunately, as we go through life we find out that promises are very often not fulfilled. Sales people and marketers often cannot substantiate their claims. Politicians overstate their intentions. Friends betray us. Hurts seem to come from all angles and many sources.

Despite our best intentions, we also fail to deliver on occasion. Only God is faithful all the time. God is faithful to His Word. He is faithful to His promises. He is faithful to His people. He is faithful to His unchanging character. God is faithful to me. II Corinthians 1:20 says, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him (Jesus). That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. “

We all know people who light up a room when they enter it. When they arrive, people flock to them and just want to be in their presence. They have a certain flare and charisma. People feel lifted up while together with them and remain so after they have left.

Then there are those people who drain a room of its energy. They need constant attention and encouragement. Their problems are always so much bigger than everyone else’s, at least in their minds. When they leave, everyone else feels down emotionally and mentally.

Which group do you feel more aligned with? To be honest, I am probably closer to being in the second group. I don’t want attention or encouragement necessarily, but my personality probably doesn’t refresh others. I am an introvert and do not bring a lot of energy to a group of people. That is not to say that I wouldn’t prefer to be in the first group. I Corinthians 16:18 says, “for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.” I am asking God to help me be a refresher to the spirit of others.

I don’t spend a lot of time looking at myself in a mirror. Generally I like to see better looking objects. Sometimes I even forget what I look like, thinking I still have the appearance of a much younger man. I also tend to forget how old I am when I begin to do something strenuous. My mind seems to have stayed behind while I got old.

Fortunately, God has given a wonderful promise to us more mature folks. I Corinthians 15:40-44 says, “There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. “

New bodies await all who believe in Jesus for their salvation. These resurrected bodies are powerful, glorious, and imperishable. In other words, our resurrected bodies are remarkably better than we see in the mirror.

We are babysitting our two year old granddaughter today. She is filled with wonder at so many things. Dice with letters on them, foam balls, colorful books, bubbles and magnetic tiles can entertain her all day. Even though she has seen these things dozens of times, she enjoys each one like it is her first time.

Adults are more jaded and easily bored by repetition. We even become irritated when we have to experience the same thing repeatedly. We’ve lost our sense of wonder at the intricacies of life.

If we don’t take time to stop and look around at the awesome things happening everywhere, we lose the sense of wonder that children possess. Exodus 15:11 says, “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Even a quick glance at the beauty of our world should give us a sense of wonder regarding the majesty of our God. We can search His Word and see the amazing works He has done for us by His grace.

Today is a foggy day in Northern Indiana. It is difficult seeing things at a distance in these conditions. You can make out the outline of distant objects, but not the fine details.

I am often in a mental fog while listening to people talk. I understand the general ideas they are communicating, but can’t quite follow the details or significance of their words.

God says that we are all like that regarding heavenly wisdom and knowledge. God is infinite and omniscient. His thoughts are not like our thoughts. While He teaches us many things about His character and purposes, we cannot understand everything about God. For those of us who believe in Jesus, we will spend eternity learning more clearly what we can only vaguely know now. I Corinthians 13:12 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. ”