Dear brothers and sisters;
Please read and meditate on this all too familiar passage from Jeremiah 29:11-14, 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. - ESV
After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, God was giving Jeremiah a Word for His people. He hadn't forgotten them and promised them a hope for the future.
I was thinking this past year about a time when I was in my early 20's, I was very single and happy. I really didn't think about the things to come later in my 30s, 40s, up to the time when I would retire. After all, I was a young lad and at that time was living for the moment.
Years after college Hazel and I got married, (she was 27 and I was 28) and over the years we were involved in the church, had steady employment, bought our first home in Daly City, then a second home in Arizona as a rental investment. In between those earlier years we had our shares of problems, our marriage, job disgruntlement, ministry challenges and seminary studies was tough.
When we were in our early 50s we started to discuss our plans for retirement, finances, ministry and where we desired to live. Ideally, we wanted to retire back in San Diego or Goodyear, Arizona where we have family in both cities. But in between all these years, what kind of shape would Hazel and I be in our relationship, what balance is left in our mortgages, finances, health and most of all, our faith. As we reached our mid-50s and one day turn 60, we began to concern ourselves more about being ready for retirement.
21 years ago Jeremiah 29:11-14 was to me a nice, fluffy passage that sounded good, but when I shared this with my mentor counselor, he asked me to think for a moment. Did I think God's people had it easy?!? Did I feel this passage was only meant for them?!?
It was 2 years ago that God revealed His plans for us and definitely not to harm us. We sold our home in Arizona and paid off the mortgage as well as the balance on our first home. Hazel wants to retire after 22 years working and I will join her. Last year I gave my notice to the church that I'm stepping down as their pastor. Our church just hired a new Pastor and as soon as he and his wife are settled, Hazel and I plan to reside overseas for 6 months there and 6 months here in Daly City.
God is giving Hazel and me a new chapter in our marriage with each other. We are prayerfully seeking a church in the small town we will reside. When we return to the states, our family who will manage our home is where we will stay. We will continue to attend and support our former church.
We're still going through the planning stages but by the Lord's leading He has taken our retirement concerns away, step by step.
I know many of our members are young and have their whole lives still in front of them but those who are thinking, planning or are already on board with retirement, I would love to hear from you.
