Retirement Days
A friend of mine that I worked with over 20 years ago is retiring this week. My wife and I are going to Alabama to celebrate with his family the ending of 29 years of ministry in the same church. A truly wonderful feat. I haven’t yet talked to him to see what he is going to do with his free time. Work, at least for most men, is an integral part of our identity. It’s where we find satisfaction. It’s our outlet for creativity. It’s our source of worth, which we measure by the paycheck we bring home to the family. Consequently, retirement thrusts many people into a life crisis as they attempt to rediscover themselves apart from their job.
Although I have a few years yet until retirement, I experienced much of this crisis when I lost my last job and was without work for seven months. I had to face me separate from what I do. At times I found it a disappointing proposition. I floundered for a way to demonstrate creativity. I struggled with my “diminished worth.” I mourned the loss of unrealized dreams. Eventually I found new ways to express myself through photography and blogging. I decided my value is not in a pay check, but in what I can contribute to others’ lives. And I did a lot of soul searching to discover new hope and dreams in new directions. Although I’m not retiring this week like my friend, I do believe I’m better prepared than I would have been for that milestone in my life when it does arrive.
I’m thinking about these things today because of my friend’s coming retirement, but also because my wife and I met with our investment advisor this week so he could talk to us about retirement planning. Will we have enough income when we both stop working? How much longer do we both have to have a regular paycheck? Those are obviously important questions–ones for which we have been preparing. The real retirement questions, however, are more substantial, and they are rarely asked by retirement planners. Will I have a way to express myself creatively? Will my life be able to provide value to others? Will God continue to place dreams and hopes within me? I haven’t been working on these as long as I’ve been working on my financial retirement, but I’m learning that they are probably more important. I’m planning to increase my investments in this “soul” preparation in the coming years.
Comments
Share your thoughts...
