Two preachers retire

Historical Photo:

The Robertson house South Lebanon, Ohio (repeat)

Thoughts today.....

Retirement is an amazing part of life.  Most people look forward to it, dream of it, BUT DO NOT PREPARE FOR IT!

When your job is stressful, retirement seems a DREAM coming true. I remember a seminar I attended just before retirement. The speaker said, “Most of you sitting there are ‘Somebody’, meaning you have authority. Presently when you say, ‘Jump,’ someone does.’ Basically today you are somebody, tomorrow you will be a nobody.  Get ready for it. Be ready to be one of the crowd or reverse your plans and do not retire.”

The man knew something. Two days after retirement I was driving my antique truck. It died on me and I coasted to the side of the road and quickly jumped out (I knew what was wrong). I drug the tool box off the back and was hurriedly looking for the long nose pliers. I just sat back on the ground and started laughing out loud.. The folks driving by must have thought I was crazy.

I said to myself, you have dreamed of this day. You have NOWHERE to be. Nobody is somewhere waiting for you. You do not have to call in and say my truck broke down. Dude, YOU ARE RETIRED!!

 I pulled myself together before I had a pleasant heart attack, fixed the truck and went on my way to nowhere in particular.

My dad was a pastor. A GOOD ONE. He cared about his people and his church building. Even though churches usually had paid janitors, he would help them. He was at the church long before a service to ensure the furnace or A/C was working. Dad looked forward to retirement. BUT he did not plan for it. His LOVE was Pastoring. Four weeks after retirement, dad was miserable.  He finally settled down and was able to fill in at churches awaiting a pastor. He was well known and always had more invitations than he could fill, BUT HE STILL MISSED A PASTORATE.

 With Dick & Kat Boon-docking in Alaska, We loved retirement!

My BIL also retired from the ministry. He knew what he was going to do. He had saved for an RV and bought one. He planned to golf, fish and travel. He soon remembered golf was expensive and fishing was a thrill. Fishing also put fish on the table, so fishing it was.

We traveled together most winters. Many weeks we fished 5 days and always had at least two big fish fries each week. Of course he too had preaching engagements. Even in Alaska. And there we FISHED plenty. The travel was wonderful.

BIL died at a campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway, doing what he loved to do. I have retired a couple times. My advice to anyone retiring, Think it through and PLAN for it. Retirement is Great, but only if you are ready for it.


Nite Shipslog

 Daddy bought a 1951 Buick in 1953. He felt bad because his members were mostly cotton mill workers, some did not have a car. He soon traded for a Rambler and he felt better. That was dad.