Recently I found myself getting a bit down about the "daily grind" of my work. Perhaps envious of others taking a more comfortable path through life, I started wondering about my own professional retirement, whether perhaps I could break into it early. Enjoy the "good life", you know?
Since the library was out of Dave Ramsey books, I just picked another, secular book on retirement - aptly titled You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think! Read the first few chapters, but after awhile, it seemed he was trying to sell me happiness as vacations, golf, and some light volunteering (to feel good about myself), and that I should be laser-focused on wrapping up work as quickly as possible. "You must have purpose", the author demanded. Figured later he was certainly right, just not quite on the idea that all purposes are equally valid.
Convicted by the testimony of "happy retirees", I was feeling a little bummed in that I don't really have hobbies, at least nothing like the kind the author was suggesting. Started feeling a bit anxious that, once you all grow up and move out, I'd end up appearing a rather boring mate for your mom. Felt obligated to find some "passions". Go take up golf? Gardening? Writing? Traveling? Sigh. Have done them all and enjoyed them, but just had an aching feeling that pursuing those would leave me empty.
Decided to read some christian commentary on "retirement". Seems to be, a christian doesn't retire - at least not in the worldly sense. We simply turn our love/service-oriented life in new directions. In truth, that is the only purpose that satisfies, because it goes hand-in-hand with Christ being our treasure. Loving God and others is our command. That doesn't change once we hit a certain age. Only that we might start doing so without a wage.
I'm not saying we can't throw in a little fun. Golf, gardening, writing, etc, are worthy activities, that can bring us joy in a way that God intended. Part of the abiding side of a well-balanced abiding/abounding life. Also, no one said loving/serving can't also be fun! But it's not always comfortable and convenient, either. We have to be true to our calling. We cannot retire from it. We must persist in love/service and magnifying Christ if we are to find joy and satisfaction in life.
Consider reading this article on retirement by John Piper (if the link still works. You may have to search for it):
https://document.desiringgod.org/rethinking-retirement-en.pdf?1446648026
I love you guys! So glad I get to spend this life with you!
Dad