What gets you up in the morning?
Who can imagine what retirement is going to be like – really? We haven’t lived it or experienced all of its joys and challenges – and truly what we imagine may be as far from the truth as it is accurate. We can hear and read about others who have breezed their way through the last 15-25 years of their life, or talk to older friends who are living in retirement right now and get every opinion ranging from sublimely content to bored to tears.
But when we finally do arrive at the retirement stage of life, a key question is “what motivates you” in this season of life? Are you yearning to slough off all you “had” to do to survive during your work hard, earn a lot, save for the future years, or is there a vestige of the desire to be productive that still whispers to you? Are you willing to settle for the expected norm, or are you looking for the provocative and exciting that could lie ahead?
Somewhere in there is a good balance – time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your hard labor, but still a niggling desire to be productive, do something that contributes to the good of mankind before there is no more opportunity because of finances or health. Satisfying ourselves only goes so far. Humanity loves to be needed, be productive and creative.
So what gets you up in the morning? What keeps the fuel going to the engine? What do you look forward to when the sun comes up? What are your first thoughts of the day? While our bodies may be slowing down just a bit as our feet hit the floor, our minds can be racing into the day. I’m sure we all have our unique waking moments…
And what do you spend most of your time thinking about? Your next golf game, your upcoming social event, the Bible study you’re teaching in 2 weeks, the family vacation, your prayer list or the looming doctor’s appointment? What consumes our thoughts is often what is motivating us, at least for the moment.
But is there something on a grander scale that drives you? The needs all around you, the plight of the refugees, the needs of the mentally unstable, the hunger of children around the world, the depression and addictions that have power over so many? The elderly who are lonely, the neglected and rejected in society, the millions who do not have the blessing of faith in Christ? Wanting to pass on our Christian faith to our families and the next generation?
Do any of us wake up asking, “God, how do you want me to use this day for You?” Instead of our “to do” list which is lighting up my brain, I can corral my wandering thoughts, and bring them captive to Christ and ask what he actually thinks about my day. Then what begins to motivate me is what I’m hearing from him – the people I need to connect with, the ministry tasks I need to complete, the family relationships I need to work on (spouse included!), the emails I need to send, the chores I have procrastinated on that must be completed, the flexibility I need to manage changed schedules and unexpected family demands. I ask him to make my list, to bring my heart into the place where I can give and serve as he has directed us to give and serve, seeking to give my day over to him and not only to my personal whims.
And of course I’m not suggesting we deny ourselves the abundance of pleasurable activities God has blessed us with in retirement. We can be motivated by wanting to play a sport better, by wanting to develop our minds through a variety of activities, and by finding a few moments to just relax and smell the roses. But God wants more for us – he wants us to have joy every day in waking and walking with him, listening for his voice of direction, and being motivated to obey Him throughout the day – eyes vertical, not horizontal. He yearns to bless us more than we can imagine…if we will find our motivation in listening for his voice every day.
Don't Waste Your Retirement 