What Is on the Calendar Today?

Before I retired, I knew that on Monday through Friday I went to work. Saturday was a day to relax or to catch up on chores around the house. Sunday was the day to go to church and join with other believers in corporate worship of our Lord. Then it was Monday again. Life had a routine.

Sometimes that routine was broken by a time of celebration - a birthday party, an anniversary, someone's wedding, a gathering with friends for a ballgame, or a time away for a much-needed vacation. At other times, illnesses, surgeries, and times of grief would break the normal routine for a season.

Since both my wife and I are retired, one of our daily questions to each other is either "what do we have today?" or "what do we have on the calendar this week?" Our quiet retirement routine is broken by doctor appointments, church events, or errands to run. Of course, we have the daily routine that is also a list of questions - "what do you want for breakfast; lunch; dinner (or supper depending on your geographical location and background)?"

Don't misunderstand my thoughts. I genuinely love retirement. However, I have realized that I also enjoyed the regular schedule of employment and the sense of daily challenges and later the sense of accomplishment that came at the end of a day or a week.

For thirty-one years my wife taught school - mainly first graders who were eager to learn and who loved their teacher. For about 50 years I was involved in full-time ministry as a pastor, denominational leader, and then as an interim pastor. Both of us had a definite sense of calling to our chosen professions. We studied, prepared, presented, and evaluated on a regular basis. We shared our successes, our missteps, and our suggestions to one another. In addition, we raised two children and rarely missed any of their activities or events. Of course, we helped with homework until their classes exceeded our knowledge base.

So how are our lives different now? Well, many things are still the same. We both read and study a great deal. The difference is that we are reading and studying books and topics of our own choosing without a deadline or a presentation looming. Our great-grandchildren are reminding us, as they grow, that we are way out of touch with the current toys and tv shows for young children. Where is the old Sears Christmas Catalogue when you need one!

We are also able to spend a great deal of relaxed time with one another. Occasionally, I have accepted a limited-time teaching or preaching responsibility that has required a great deal of study preparation (aging requires longer and more repetition in studying). When those assignments are completed, we realize how much we have missed our more relaxed daily lives.

Mary has helped me develop a real enjoyment in putting together jigsaw puzzles with her. I have taken up painting on canvas again - that had been an enjoyment when I was 10 or 11 (wow, how the time has gone by). The mountains of Colorado and the colors of the foliage here are freshing to these Texas eyes. While we miss our Texas friends, we have greatly enjoyed reconnecting with friends made the first few days of college. They live in Colorado about the same distance north of Denver that we live south of Denver. Every few weeks we meet for a good Mexican meal at our halfway city.

Taking the time to write this week's article has reminded me of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. The first verse is a great summary verse of the seven that follow it. The author of Ecclesiastes, probably King Solomon, understood that life has many seasons and variations in the course of time.

A Time for Everything

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

² a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

³ a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

Do you ever give thought to what season of life you are living? Perhaps this Autumn is a good time to give some thought to the seasons of life and what is your calling or role in this season. The leaves here are turning gold and red. The next season brings snow. The following one will feature the greening of vegetation followed by the warmth and sometimes heat of the sun. Regardless of the season, we are to live the life that God created for us and has called us to embrace. I pray that you find purpose and enjoyment in all of your seasons of this God-given life.