Wednesday, July 22, 2009

RETIREMENT: HOW TO PONDER IT

Life is like a vapor. Anyone ever heard that before? If life is such, what must the last few years of ministry be? Nanno blink?

I'm 62. I'm energetic and enthused about my work. But I'm not naive. The day is coming when I need to step back from this present role. How?

I believe my heart will never retire from ministry. My heart will live on past the grave. But I already feel my body and mind unable to keep up with parts of my role. Plus, my overriding concern is not me but Memorial.....really. I love this church more than me. In some ways it is me.

A few years back we adjusted Sunday mornings by having others on staff do the preaching while I sit among us. This will increase....and I must say I like it. I'm proud of Memorial and proud of my colleagues. My role is to decrease that they may increase. Does that sound familiar?

So how do I go about the actual decision to retire? I'm stumped. I don't want to stay too long nor leave too early. So here's what I hope I know; God will work it out with perfect timing. I believe I can accept such with grace; at least I want to. But what's it like? Ah, that's going to be a toughy as I love this work so much it's like being on vacation every day when I get to get up and go to work.

God runs the show. I haven't one day. He'll do it right. I just hope when the time comes, I do. For now I think it is remarkably fascinating to get to work where I work. I love this staff and this congregation. When the Judgment Day arrives all of the Memorial members will get an automatic free pass because God has noted how much they had to put up with in me while here.

2 comments:

jason reeves said...

Terry, thank you, thank you... for being you!

Glory to God!

Jason Reeves

Christi Bloomer said...

I hope you continue to remain at Memorial for YEARS to come! I know you won't ever completely leave EVER and I think we all take comfort in that!