This occasionally happens, and it always amuses me. I was having a really stressful dream. Not like a nightmare or anything, just events of the dream were causing massive stress to me in the dream. Then, at its fever pitch, and outside thought popped in my head of, "hey, I think this is just a dream? Should we wake up?" to which me in the dream replied, "uh, sure!". And then I woke up and the stress immediately melted away.
Yesterday I announced in church that this will be the last year in ministry for Mrs. A and I. We will be retiring on or about July 1 of next year. I have mixed feelings about it, but the book of Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time for everything, and it is time for this.
Hey, the Byrds also said that -- coincidence.
Congratulations and best of luck! You know there isn't really such thing as a retired pastor, right?
I have said that I'll do pulpit supply for pastors who are vacationing, at church camps, etc. But I will not take any sort of regular appointment. Given where I live, I suspect pulpit supply will keep me about as busy as I care to be. And of course, I have a lot of other ideas for things I want to do as well.
Congratulations on the impending retirement. I hope your feelings become less mixed as you get closer, and you find a new rhythm that works well for you!
Mixed feelings is a good thing, in a way. The reason they're mixed is because I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy my time in ministry. But that time needs to come to an end. I don't want to be Adam Wainwright, continuing to pitch when he clearly can't do it anymore. I want to go out while I still feel like I'm getting the job done.
The new rhythm will come, I'm sure. For a while, though, I'm looking forward to waking up and being able to think, "What should I do today?" rather than thinking, "Today I have to do this, and tomorrow I need to get that done, and there's this other project I have to get done by the end of the week." Again, I'm sure I'll eventually settle into a routine. But I look forward, for a while, to not having one.
Wainwright is still one of the best pitchers on the planet, so even if you waited a while you'd be in good company
This makes me thin of an exchange last night while we were playing tee-ball in the yard yesterday and Kid1 got real frustrated and upset and ran off crying.
When I finally got her calmed down and asked what was wrong, she said "I'll never be good enough"
"You're trying your best and improving. That last hit was really good. What do you mean?"
"As the players we saw at the baseball stadium, I'll never be as good as them."
"Do you mean the game we went to with PopPop?" (Ed note: Royals @ Twins where Buxton hit this)
"....yeah..."
"Oh sweetie! Those are grownups which means what?"
"They're bigger'
"Which means?"
"They've practiced a lot?"
"Yes, exactly. They've practice A LOT. Those are the best players in the world* who have practiced their whole lives. No one expects you to be as good as them. No one is as good as them, they're the best. I just want you to find something you like doing and practice and have fun with it, that's all"
*Meaning major leaguers in general, I wasn't going to get into the Royals being the Royals.
I think that's a good attitude. Let the routine form, but you'll need a good amount of time to breath into that new norm.
New “Can’t Hardly Wait” just dropped.
RIP, Legend.
I'm old enough to remember Bob from his first big game show, Truth or Consequences. Not sure that concept would even work as a TV show these days, both are in such short supply.
huh.