A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE

       I’m almost fully retired after 44 years as a church professional—4 as a Director of Christian Education/Youth Pastor and the rest as a pastor. The strange thing is that I don’t know how to feel about it. It’s what I’ve known and the only thing that I feel some sense of competence in—though others may be of a different opinion regarding the competence thing. But now I will be entering a world that, though is not totally unfamiliar to me since I’ve been only part-time for the last 9 years, is nonetheless a little unimaginable in its fullness.

       I’ve been making plans, creating a kind of bucket list, and attempting to figure out how to make the most of this next stage of my life. I’m trying not to try too hard, though. I don’t want it to be a frantic transition, but rather, an easy, smooth passage into a new form of personal freedom. Of course, that may be asking too much since my personal identity has been so deeply immersed in being a pastor.

       At the age of 75, I sometimes feel as though I need to be guarded against giving in to a stereotypical mindset of being elderly, even though that’s the category to which my age automatically assigns me. In general, I’ve always been rather youthful in the way I think and in my overall demeanor, wrinkles notwithstanding. Naturally there are some physiological issues that have placed some limitations on things that I can no longer do.

       For instance, when I turned 60, I celebrated my birthday by going snowshoeing in the Adirondacks. It was a great time— invigorating and fun. That’s probably not going to happen anymore, but I’m okay with that. However, though I won’t be putting that on my bucket list, I’ll not give up on the idea entirely. I used to do a lot of tent camping, lying on the ground and easily getting up the next day, limber and ready to go. “Limber and ready to go” is not a reality these days, and sleeping on the ground is far from being within my comfort zone. However, a good sleeping bag, a pillow, and an LL Bean cot is just fine.

       The point is that changes in life are unavoidable, whether you’re talking about getting older or a change in life circumstances. In his letter to the Church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote “I have learned to be content with whatever I have.” Maybe that’s the secret to a really joyful life. I suppose it’s easier said than done—or maybe not. Maybe it depends on whether we choose to be victims or passionate participants.