I’m very much a word person – like to think about the power of words, their definitions, but also their connotations – what is implied when you use certain words. And what form of the word do you use? The noun, the adjective, the verb – which is more powerful when you say it or read it? My default is always going to be a verb or an adjective – create or creative over creator, protect or protective over protector – just seem to have more punch in the verb or adjective form.
So while in general I know I prefer using the verb or adjective form of a word, I landed on a noun for this blog – HOPE. I was drawn to the word as I pondered Easter Saturday and how Jesus’ followers must have felt after his crucifixion – had they lost hope in who he was? Had they lost hope in what they believed he came to accomplish?
And one thought led to another and pretty soon I’m thinking about retirement and the word HOPE. Do I still have hope, despite most of my years being behind me? Do you still have hope, do you still anticipate a productive future, is HOPE a word that has deep meaning to you in this season? We can think back in time to all the desperate situations in our lives where we had to live off hope, or to the joyful situations where hope just felt right because things were changing for good. Or how many times we have counseled people to have hope, cast off the doubts and negative thoughts consuming our minds… and just have hope.
And as I turned the word HOPE over and over in my mind, I realized that using the phrase “I have hope” is quite different from the phrase we use a lot, “I hope,” or even “I’m hopeful.” The first has a powerful impact on whatever follows it, it embodies a total attitude that embraces positive thoughts, genuine desire, extravagant belief – that whatever is being referenced in relationship to “hope” will actually come about. On the other hand, in my word mind, to say “I hope” carries less energy, less belief, less anticipation. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t.
So I’ve landed on using the noun HOPE – and embracing thoughts of living with hope, living a life of hope, I still have hope…and more. We have the benefit of seeing how HOPE has gotten us through the chaos and challenges of life, which should translate into a life of hope for our retirement. In my mind “hope” never dies in us until we take our last breath. We have hope when we pray, when we love others, when we serve – we walk in hope.
And I think it’s absolutely necessary for us to believe that even in retirement, we still have something great inside of us! We should be people of hope because God has more for us to do. He’s given us every good gift to bring energy even to the most mundane of tasks and hope to brighten our days – even in this season. We embrace this life of hope for our future – that tomorrow will be a good day, that our words and actions still have meaning for others and that we can continue to accomplish things that will impact our sphere of influence and our communities.
The world definitely needs HOPE today, as it always has. We have to believe there is a better day, a better way, a future of goodness and kindness ahead. Because we’re living proof that hope moves us forward towards better things, let’s be the ones to rally the world to be people of HOPE!
Don't Waste Your Retirement 