Reluctant Retiree

It is my opinion that people generally don’t think about themselves accurately. We often think too highly of ourselves. When we achieve things, we tend to forget how others contributed to the success. When we give we overstate our generosity. When we think about ourselves we rate our strengths too highly and discount our weaknesses, especially on resumes.

Some of us actually think too lowly of ourselves. We overstate or imagine weaknesses. We undervalue the strengths we do have. Humility is a good character trait to possess but humility does not mean to think lowly of yourself. Humility means to think accurately about yourself and to act accordingly.

Once again Jesus is our example. Philippians 2:5-11 says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus’ humility not only teaches us how to be humble but also demonstrates his Lordship over all things.

During my morning walk I tripped over a uneven section of sidewalk. I fell and skinned up my knees, arms, and hands. This is the third time this has happened in recent weeks. Apparently I need to pick up my feet when I walk and not just shuffle them.

It didn’t feel too good. In fact it still hurts a bit. However, I didn’t sprain or break anything. My initial reaction was frustration at tripping again. Then I thought how fortunate I was that nothing serious happened. Even while I was still on the ground gathering my senses, I began to thank God that I wasn’t hurt more than I was.

Every day we all have things that trip us up. Unexpected things to do, bad drivers, illness, harsh words from others, and other unforeseen obstacles pop up and trip us. They can set the tone for our day if we let them. Our response to these obstacles constitute the first steps toward positive or negative consequences. We can begin to dig a deeper hole for ourselves or look up and see the beauty created for us.

After I fell, I continued my walk. I looked to the sky on my right and saw a beautiful orange and blue sunrise. It picked my spirits up to the point that I had to direct a passing pedestrian to look at the sunrise also. I said, “Don’t miss looking up and seeing the beautiful sunrise God has prepared for you.” To be honest, she did not seem impressed. There you have it, two different responses that set in motion the positive and negative outlooks on our day.

Jesus said that there is one stumbling block that we must all respond to. It is how we respond to him that determines how we will spend eternity. Peter puts it like this, “For it stands in Scripture: Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, the stone who the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”

I am watching baseball. The announcers use a word not often associated with a game, sacrifice. The idea is a hitter giving himself up to advance or score a runner.

Most people make a lot of sacrifices to benefit others. These sacrifices include gifts of time for family members, money to charities, help to those in need, assistance to those who are struggling. Some people even go as far as donating blood, plasma, marrow or organs to others. Beyond these sacrifices are the ones made by military members and first responders, which often include the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.

Jesus said that a friend is one who gives his own life for another. He gave his life so that others would be saved and live with him in eternity. Mark 10:45 records Jesus as saying, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

We’ve all heard the expression “home is where the heart is”. For most of us home has special meaning for us. The word conjures up fond memories of family, fun, and love.

Here, in Indiana, most people still live near the place they grew up in. They can, and do, revisit their childhood homes and neighborhoods. Many still have close friends from that area. In fact, many have not even traveled far from home.

My life started similarly. I lived in the same house for the first 21 years of my life. Then I got married and we moved 12 times in the first 6 years of marriage. While we didn’t keep us this pace we have moved several times in the next 43 years until now. I have fond memories of each place but I don’t consider any of these places to be my home. I wouldn’t feel really comfortable returning to any of these places.

The Bible explains that this world is not the true home of those who are true believers in Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is in heaven with Jesus. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and will live with Him forever.

Philippians 3:20-21 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Have you ever watched geese for very long? They generally spend the whole day walking around pecking at the ground for food. If they have food they are satisfied. They don’t need to do anything else.

I know people like that. If they just have enough food, they are not motivated to do anything else. They won’t put effort into securing their future or developing relationships, or even taking care of other basic needs.

This seems short-sighted and misdirected to me. But people who focus on some other things can be equally misdirected. I would include in that category those who focus on their clothing, riches, fame, and selfishness to the detriment of loftier pursuits.

Jesus says it best. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself.” Luke 9:24-25 ESV We lose our soul if we focus on ourselves only.

I went to see my cardiologist today. He gave me good news and bad news. The good news is that my heart muscle is working just fine. The bad news is that my heart’s electrical system is not working well at all. So he is sending me to a Cardiac Electrophysicist.

I have never heard of that medical specialty. Sometimes it seems that specialties are so narrow that these medical personnel know only one thing. How about the gastrenterologist who only does colonoscopies? If you ask a specialist about a body function outside his specialty, they probably can’t help you.

Often I feel like the specialist. Ask me a question about something I’ve studied or had experience with and I can give you an answer. The answer may not be correct based upon my limited study or experience.

Sometimes when I am getting a medical test, like an MRI or CT Scan, I think to myself why don’t they just go to the source to find out what they want to know. I believe that God formed me in my mother’s womb and he still knows the intimate details of what is going on in my body. He can see and feel the incorrect electrical impulses in my heart. He knows the causes and what should be done to fix them. However he is not being asked, except by me, of course. He is not a specialist, but in fact, he knows all things, including the effective remedies. I say, “Go to the source, the creator.”

Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

I don’t know if it is my age or the fact that I have spent a lot of time out of the country, but I just don’t understand a lot of what is going on around me. I am not just talking about the macro issues of politics, pandemic, and cultural divisions. I’m pretty sure that few people understand what is going on in those areas, although many people say they understand.

I am confused about the things people talk about around me. I am not sure where people are coming from. It often takes me days of thinking about spoken words for understanding to come, even on a limited basis.

Have you had that experience? Even on a limited basis? Am I the only confused person out there? Is everyone else living on a higher plane?

I don’t think that I am the only one. I think we all feel a sense of disconnection with others. Some of us feel this less than others, but the disconnection is real. It is like we are trying to speak over or through a wall between us. In one sense that is okay as we are not all alike. On the other hand we need to break through these walls to understand each other and displace our biases in order to truly love one another.

Jesus has broken down the walls of prejudice and can make us understand one another in love. The apostle Paul wrote, “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility”. Ephesians 2:13-14 ESV

As I write this, a workman is trying to fix a water fountain outside our patio door. Normally it works for only a few months, but this year it has only worked for a few days. One problem is that the owners of the apartment complex let the water level in the pond, where the fountain sits, get too low for the fountain’s intake.

While watching the workman, I am thinking about the various fountains life has brought my way. I have had fountains of joy at the births of our children and marriage to the greatest lady on earth. Fountains of loneliness have sprung up at times of isolation. There have been fountains of adventure in foreign travel and living overseas. Broken or even just strained relationships have caused fountains of sorrows. It is interesting how the seaons of life cause fountains of excitement, disappointment, confusion, or longing.

Jesus spoke of a different kind of fountain. This fountain or river never ceases and constantly gives life. He was speaking to a woman drawing water at a well when he said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I want this type of fountain to take root in my life. Therefore I am connecting myself to the source, Jesus.

A worldwide pandemic have you worried? Are you anxious about political events and the coming national election? Do health concerns weigh your mind down?

It is completely understandable that these and other concerns cause us to be anxious at times. What can we do to find some relief?

First, we need to drect our thoughts to the present, where we live. The past is gone and we cannot relieve worry by concentrating unduly on the future. Thinking about the present better prepares us to handle the future.

Secondly, I would suggest that what we think about affects our attitudes. If we are constantly having negative thoughts, our attitudes will follow negatively. Instead, when we are thankful for what we have and think positive thoughts our attitudes and outlook will improve.

Philippians 4:8 puts it this way; “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

After retiring we moved to this area to be close to two of our children and five grandchildren. We have been blessed to spend a lot of time with the grandkids, especially.

One thing I am constantly amazed by is their short attention span. Once our granddaughter picked a book she wanted me to read to her. She gave me the book and sat next to me. I opened the book and read with great enthusiasm. Five seconds into the book she got up and left, while exclaiming, “this is boring.”

At times I have watched our kids with their kids and wondered how it has become the parents’ primary job to entertain the kids. Kids used to be able to entertain themselves, at least some of the time. Now they want parents to provide nonstop entertainment.

I’ve thought about this and examined my own life. I seem to have a short attention span also. I want God to entertain me and be at my beckon and call. It doesn’t work that way. While God is always present, He is not there to entertain me or do as I wish. In fact He is more interested in building my character than fulfilling my wishes.

God is good all the time and is constantly doing good in my life. However the good He is doing may hurt a little bit as he removes the bad stuff. If I am willing to persevere in thanksgiving, he will make something wonderful of my life.

Romans 8:28 says, ” And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”