Article May 5, 1997 Issue

Retirement debunked

Bruce A. Cunningham

The retirement years are played up as ones to be enjoyed as a reward for a lifetime of hard work. But could it be that having all play and no work is as bad as having all work and no play? Is there a higher reward worth striving for? These days more retired people are working during their retirement years than in the past. Many actually prefer working part time, not only for the needed income but to feel useful.

Working during the so-called retirement years is pushing back the age barrier as expectations for a longer life are enhanced. God is Life. And as God's spiritual reflection, we express this eternal Life. God, Life, neither peters out, deteriorates, decays, nor goes into retirement! Neither do the usefulness, happiness, and health of His creation decline. This spiritual sense of Life never brings on burdens but refreshes and renews. It is a material sense of life and work that is the burden; a spiritual sense of them lightens the load. Christ Jesus said: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:29, 30).

Isn't Jesus telling us that there is a job that isn't burdensome or tiresome, least of all dull or boring? Rather it leaves us rested and spiritually uplifted, as well as richly rewarded. The job includes learning about who we are as the spiritual, perfect child of God. It is work we can do even before retirement years and even if we already have a full-time job. Doing this job shows us that we have everything to live for on earth and in heaven. To retire from this job would mean to retire from being who we truly are.

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