Not long ago I was moved to write the following letter to a dearly loved lifelong friend. Nearly my same age, I’m seeing a common struggle in his life that some of us “retirees” typically face: Slowing down a bit, disengaging from pace-filled, dawn-‘til-dark activity.
It continues to amaze me how much there is to do even though I’m not “clocking-in” each morning! As one retired friend has put it: “I don’t know how I ever had any time to work!” Thankfully, Laurie and I have found a very comfortable pace that allows for reaching desired goals in a very relaxed, non “driven” way. As someone has put it: If you want more time, freedom, and energy, start saying no!
Back to my beloved friend, his unusual endowment of intelligence coupled with a very winsome personality and deeply compassionate heart, seem to “feed-the-need” to press on, while his body is saying (through various maladies e.g. loss of mental acuity, sleeplessness, chronic fears and phobias, etc.),
“Whoa, let’s step away from all this and reassess what’s happening here!”
Following is a short letter I sent, urging him to attempt some re-evaluating: “So glad to hear of a burst in your mental acuity Michael [not his real name]. God has given you special facility in the sciences (and other areas!) to be used for His glory — as you have strived for all along. For some reason (the Lord?) it occurred to me to invite you to ask yourself this question: ‘Why do I want to stay so busy?’
“Michael, it’s not my ‘business’; I’m not meddling, being nosy or judgmental. Obviously, there are times, seasons in life when we are to be engaged, goal-oriented, need-planning. But there also comes a time — or even the time — when we begin to downshift, slowing down, heading toward a narrower focus, a definite emphasis on a few things; prioritized involvement.
“If added income is truly a need and/or if continuing to work, even part-time, is beneficial for you and Melissa [not her real name], then fantastic! Enjoy, ‘be fruitful and multiply’! But if on the other hand your current ‘schedule’ is killing you, it seems obvious to me that it’s time for a change.
“There’s no hidden message in all this my friend! I simply feel a compulsion to invite you to ask yourself, ‘What’s going to matter most in 25, in 50 years: how long I worked OR what tangible record of my life will remain?’
“Seems to me anything that gets in the way of that investment of your life is, at the very least, suspect — if not a distraction or diversion from the very thing(s) the Lord would have you emphasize e.g. your autobiography [something he’s talked about doing for many years now]! If that project, which will be around long after we’re in glory, can remain a priority along with your plan to work (even part-time) then that’s fabulous!
“I had no plans to write this note; it just came to me after reading your email this morning. I know you’ll do what the Lord makes clear to you and Melissa!
“Michael, in pondering what I’ve written, apply the old adage: ‘Eat the chicken and spit out the bones!’ Rest assured, you’ll know what path to be on/stay on. Remember: We are to be Spirit led, not guilt-driven!
“Love you Mighty M”
I realize this “reflection” will not immediately apply to all of you; some of you are just getting started career wise, others are midway, etc. But the principal lesson applies to all of us regardless of age: God calls us to live a life that brings glory to Him, a life that wisely invests what He’s entrusted to each of us: time, talents, and treasures.
Let us all bear in mind the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)!
As one commentator has observed, the “reward” issued was based on the use of the money entrusted to each servant, not the return. Since the initial amounts were granted on the basis of each servant’s known ability, the “reckoning” was made based on how well the servant used the opportunity available to him.
While we have breath we have the opportunity to be led by God, to live for God, to love because He first loved us. That’s His plan for us — plain and simple!