If retirement is for old people
then why am I retiring?
It seems like just a few weeks ago
that I was moving from California
to come to Southern Nazarene University.
After 20+ years of being a pastor
and 20+ years of being a professor
in the School of Theology and Ministry
and now five years as Chaplain
for our School of Professional and Graduate Studies…
it’s time to retire!
As with any transition in life,
retirement can be filled with lots of anxiety:
- Will I have enough money to live comfortably?
- What am I going to do with all my time?
- What if I’m bored?
- Where will I find my significance?
Undoubtedly, there will be plenty
of twists and turns in the road ahead
and some of them will surely test me
in ways that, as of now, I can only imagine.
However, I aspire to face those challenges
with the same confidence
that God gave to Joshua so many years ago:
“Do not be afraid or terrified,
for the Lord your God goes with you;
he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6)
As I look back over my life and ministry,
my heart is filled to overflowing
with gratitude for all that God has given to me
and all the ways He has led me into green pastures.
Following Gods’ call and adventure
has taken me further than any dream I ever had for myself!
Allow me to close with Paul’s prayer for his Philippian friends
as if it is also my prayer for you!
I thank my God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of your partnership
in the gospel from the first day until now,
being confident of this,
that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you,
since I have you in my heart and,
whether I am in chains
or defending and confirming the gospel,
all of you share in God’s grace with me.
God can testify how I long for all of you
with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer:
that your love may abound more and more
in knowledge and depth of insight,
so that you may be able to discern
what is best.
(Philippians 1:3-10)
I invite you to use this form to share your prayer request with me.
