Reluctant Retiree

I went in for my annual health assessment today. All the signs were good and I was pleased. That was just my physical check-up. What about my emotional and mental health? I don’t get those checked very often. In fact, it has been over ten years since those parts of my soul were evaluated.

I would wager that you are the same. When anything in our body is not functioning well, we go to the doctor. If something in our mental or emotional state is malfunctioning we think we can handle it, if we notice at all. What makes us think we are so capable in the mental and emotional realms? Everybody around us can probably tell we are having problems as these problems affect interpersonal relationships.

What about spiritual problems? Where do we go to evaluate our spiritual health? Only God can tell us how we’re doing in this area. We have to ask him to reveal the state of our spiritual health. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” I encourage you to ask God to search your heart and reveal any hurtful ways in you.

The leaves have all fallen and the trees are bare. The fields have all been plowed under so that only the dirt remains. Flowers have wilted until the blossoms of spring. Creeks and ponds are drying up and mud is coming to the surface.

The landscape, once colorful, is now mostly shades of brown. The only fruit or produce to be found is on grocery shelves.

This is the natural cycle of things. Barrenness will yield to fruitful seasons to come. God implemented the seasons in part to remind us that we were created to be fruitful as well. He doesn’t want us to live in barrenness, but rather he wants us to experience the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience and goodness.

He has made the way for us to be fruitful through his son, Jesus Christ. As we know him more each day and become like him, we will bear fruit. Colossians 1:6 says, “the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing even as it has been doing in you since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.” The gospel is the kingdom of God coming to us in Jesus Christ. Accept this truth and live for him, then you will bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and goodness.

When our daughter was in middle school, she wanted to be a cheerleader. Frankly, I was hesitant. In my experience, cheerleaders wanted to be seen more than they wanted to support the team and the fans. We relented, however, and she, and the squad, did a good job of supporting the team. It’s funny, at our grandson’s high school football games, there are more families of cheerleaders than of the team.

A good cheerleader knows the score and the team’s overall situation. The cheers are then designed to encourage the team in those situations. They believe in the team and want them to succeed.

Everybody needs cheerleaders in his or her life. I am not talking about somebody with a uniform and megaphone. I am talking about somebody who believes in us. Somebody who is ready with an encouraging word. Somebody who understands our situation and walks with us through our struggles. I believe that Jesus does all these things and more. But each of us can be cheerleaders for someone. Perhaps it is for our spouse or a child. Perhaps we can cheer on a friend.

Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another day after day as long as it is called ‘Today’, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Without encouragement we risk becoming overtaken by sin. Don’t let this happen. Encourage someone today!

Have you noticed the great things that people are doing all around you? On the news, they tell the story of kids starting charities to positively impact those in need. They also tell of the heroic acts of first responders and of lives saved by ordinary strangers. We hear of organizations established to meet needs through the keen observation of our neighbors. I watch athletes do amazing things on the field. We hear of family members making huge sacrifices for their families. Then there are the people who donate kidneys to make another person’s life better.

I see and hear all these stories and wonder why I am not doing anything great. Perhaps you have the same feeling. First, I want to encourage you by saying you are probably doing some of these things. You probably are making sacrifices daily to make the lives of other people better, especially your family. You probably are generous with your time and resources to help others.

Secondly, we have to draw upon the right source of power to do great things. Doing good things depends on the right motivation and strength. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” So if you are ever tempted to think “I can’t do this”, go to the God of this promise and ask Him to strengthen you for the task. You and I can do great things if we are hooked up to the right power source.

‘Tis the gift giving and receiving season. Most gifts are received with joy and thanksgiving, as they should be. Sometimes, however, gifts are received with a shrug or sour expression. What causes the different reactions?

To be honest sometimes the gifts are just awful. Giving a child underwear for Christmas, not good! However sometimes a poor reaction to a received gift is the result of a bad attitude on the part of the receiver. Expectations were set too high or even something as base as greed has settled in the heart. In either case, the receiver is just not content.

In some ways it is good not to be content in life. When we are just content, we don’t move forward. In other ways discontent brings problems. We want more and think we deserve more, so we try to move forward in selfishness. This causes conflict within ourselves and conflict with others.

Paul wrote about the good type of contentment in Philippians 4:12 when he said, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Paul had experienced it all, from beatings to shipwreck. At times he had plenty and other times he had little. Yet, in every circumstance he felt contentment. He was grateful for what he had, rather than resentful for what he didn’t have. So during this season, take a little time to express your thanks for what you already have.

Have you ever wondered about the many things competing for our attention? Our bosses want us to contemplate business concerns. Advertizers demand our allegiance to their products. Family members cry out for our thoughts and actions. Politicians spend big money trying to get our agreement.

At various times and in various places it is appropriate to give our thoughts over to each of these attention seekers. The problem is that very little time is left remaining for us to consider deeper things, issues of the heart and life. When can we think about the things that lead to joy, hope, love, inner peace, strength, and compassion?

To achieve these qualties, we must carve out time, silence and solitude to think about them. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Our thoughts form our character, values and beliefs. Take care what you think about.

Long ago I gave up watching sports pregame and talk shows. Lately I’ve stopped watching the news on television. Why? Because it bothers me to hear so called experts constantly criticizing others. It doesn’t matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, each side is seeking to bring the the other side down. We cannot build a great country in this way.

We cannot build strong families in this way either. If we are constantly criticizing other family members we discourage them while irritating ourselves. Kind, uplifting words have far greater power to build the kind of family that we desire.

Jesus’ first disciples and apostles understood this. Paul encouraged the brethren to be kind and tenderhearted toward one another (Ephesians 4:32). In Romans he went a step further by saying, “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” Just think what our families would be like if we practiced these words. Just think what our country would be like if our leaders and we practiced these words!

When we were kids, we presumed that we would receive gifts at Christmas, unless we came from poor or neglectful families. Not only that, but we presumed that we would get what we wanted.

Now that we are older, presumption comes into play in different ways. On the job, we expect to be compensated for the good work we do. At the store, we expect good service and quality products. In court, there is the presumption of innocence until proven guity. In all these cases the reward is earned and therefore expected.

It doesn’t work that way with God. There is nothing we can do to earn his favor. No amount of praying, church attendance, Bible reading or memorization, or kindness will make God think you deserve his favor. Instead, he offers grace. Grace is unmerited favor. He offers salvation through his grace. We cannot earn it. He offers far more than salvation, however. Through his grace he wants to give us eternal life, hope, love, and joy. In fact, he never runs out of good things to give us. John 1:16 says, “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Open your heart to receive his grace upon grace.

If a fire threatened your home, what would you consider important to take with you before the fire reached your home? Everybody, I assume, would make sure their family members are safe first, but what else would you pack the car with, given the time to do so? Would family photos and remembrances be packed first? Or would you first take the time to rescue valuables and material items? The items you would choose say a lot about your priorities in life.

Jesus warns us to have our priorities in the right place. In Matthew 16:25 he says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Jesus is saying that we shouldn’t hold onto the things of this world tightly, but should instead give our lives to him and trust him with it.

HELPFUL HINT: People tend to put family photos and other significant items in low and easily accessible places. We have learned, from experience with disaster relief, that these items should be stored in secure places instead. For instance, flood waters rise and destroy valuables stored in low and accessible places.

When we were young we played hide and seek. We all had a favorite hiding place that others could never find us. When the person who was “it” couldn’t find us they would call out and we would come out of our hiding place. The hiding place protected us from being found and becoming “it”.

As adults, there are times when we would like to retreat into a secret hiding place. Perhaps the demands of the day just become too much. Or even worse, a personal tragedy happens and we just don’t want to be found. At other times we may feel under attack by friends, coworkers, and those who don’t like us.

Unfortunately, as adults, there are few places we can hide and even fewer times that we can hide. At work we usually have to be available to coworkers and customers. At home the kids and our spouses or roommates demand our attention.

Where can we go to find some relief, solitude, and solace? Jesus is often described in the Bible as our rock, fortress, strong tower, stronghold and refuge. He promises to “never leave us or forsake us”. He took on human form so that he knows our weaknesses and temptations. He understands us and can protect us. Psalm 71:3 says, “Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I can continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Let Jesus be your refuge and surround you in his arms of love.