In the still of the night it came to me. Despite a household filled with furniture from two homes, 4 adults, two children, three cats, and a dog there was a stillness in the night. I was reading a Navajo mystery novel, the lights were low, Max the dog was asleep in 'his chair', and a cat slid slowly through the shadows. I was very relaxed and, no, I had not had a glass of wine. A sentence about one of the main characters stirred my mind. "He retired, didn't he?"
After a little more than 3 years since my official retirement I think the time has come for me to really retire. I had begun to think about serving a small church. What was I thinking! I had taken a step back from being Pastor Norm several weeks ago when I decided not to do children's messages at church anymore. I enjoy doing this but I have been doing it for 44 years. Others can do it just as well as me.
I am teaching a study group through November. They are a great bunch with inquiring minds. Together we are thinking about how the Bible fits into our faith journey. And I have some friends joining us via an online study group. I love teaching! This morning I am thinking this will be my last study group. Others can lead just as well as me.
Earlier this month I led a memorial service for a dear friend who died too soon. It is a privilege and an honor to be asked to celebrate an individuals life. Later, I learned that several attending wanted to know what church I was preaching at. I am grateful for the compliment. I will do services such as this but I no longer have the need to do funerals. Others can do it just as well as me.
I am scheduled for one wedding and possibly a second wedding in 2015. I look forward to doing these as ,again, it involves significant friendships. It will be a joyful time. Honored as I am to be asked, friendships will decide my answer. Others can do weddings just as well as me.
Finally, preaching. I love preaching and have done so several times this year. To engage the congregation in reflecting on our faith and how we live it out has always been a delight. I will continue to preach from time to time but am content to more and more be a pew person rather than a pulpit presence. Others can do it just as well as me.
IF you are still reading thank you. I felt the need to move these thoughts out of my mind and into black and white on a page. In the still of the night I answered the question "He retired, didn't he?" YES
