There are different times of year and different times in our lives where reflection is a natural activity; there are other times when it is thrust upon us. Almost always, retirement and milestone birthdays bring reflection. In his book Eternal Echoes, John O’Donohue writes of a man reflecting on his fiftieth birthday: “[the friend] was surprised and excited on looking back at his life to discover that much of what he had understood as the successes in his life did not hold their substance under more critical reflection. As against that, what he had always termed his failure now began to seem ever more interesting and substantial. The places of failure had been the real points of change and growth.”
Retirement for me has involved not only reflection but also an examination of what could be next. Reflecting on my successes and failures, and trying to determine for what I might actually be suited. It has also involved looking at how my career unfolded, each step or opportunity, and how I got there. Almost without exception, I was dropped in to the various jobs I held. They were not jobs I actually sought but opportunities that presented themselves as the open door.
I trust that “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow” (Hebrews 13:8), and that He will drop me in again where He is sending me. Can’t wait.
Just Sayin' 