Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Retire to what?
Originally published in the December 29, 1976 issue of The Christian Science Monitor
Much has been written about retirement—how you should plan ahead for it and think about what you want to do before the time comes. Emphasis is on developing hobbies and a wide range of interests. All of this is helpful to a certain extent, but for myself, I have found the most important thing is to allow each day to unfold under God’s direction rather than stick too closely to a preconceived plan. It is wonderful to be able to turn over one’s entire day to God. He often provides delightful surprises when we are willing to be flexible rather than rigid. Christian Science shows how we can learn to trust Him.
This is not to imply, however, that Christian Science uses a formula for prayer. It most assuredly does not. But it does show that prayer to God—prayer that comes from the sincere desire to ask God to show us the way—provides the ideas that will give us productive, satisfying days.
In reality there is no transition involved in retirement, nothing to which one has to really “adjust.” Our work should continually be to express the qualities of God, whether we are in an office, a store, a factory, in the field, on the road, at home. When we see the distinction between our work and our job, so called, we see that the work never stops, even though the job may come to an end. When one no longer has a job, one is freer to continue with one’s work, and opportunities open up that cannot always be anticipated or foreseen. These new opportunities give us purpose. They present needs to be filled, progressive ideas to be developed. We must always resist vigorously the notion we are no longer needed or wanted. God has provided both place and purpose for every one of His children. This is scientific fact, divine law.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes, “Beloved children, the world has need of you,—and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives.” Miscellaneous Writings, p. 110
Sometimes when one is about to retire, the advice is given to throw away clocks and watches. This is good advice in that one no longer thinks in terms of a certain number of hours owed to an employer, with the time left over divided up like pieces of pie into recreation, sleep, shopping, or whatever. Divine inspiration, flowing from God to His beloved child, leads us to new challenges and adventures. Our real, spiritual selfhood—the reflection of God—never goes into retirement. It never needs rest. God’s ceaseless love, intelligence, understanding, and goodness are reflected in man. That’s why we don’t ever really “retire,” although circumstances may change.
Christian Science follows the teachings of Christ Jesus, who urged others to continue his healing ministry. In the Bible we are told: “The Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.”Luke 10:1, 2
As laborers in His harvest we have plenty of work to do. There is no retirement from this great work.