It’s time for a retirement revolution.
What is your view of retirement? What will it look like for you? Let me guess. It’s a time when you get to focus on yourself. This will be the chapter of life when you get to do whatever you want. At last, life will be all about you. Finally you will get to spend your kids’ inheritance as you cruise the Caribbean or lay by the pool.
Is this really how you want to spend the last chapter of life; by becoming self-centered?
Our culture is saturated with this kind of thinking about retirement. I am sick of it. It’s revolting. And it is contrary to what I see in the Bible.
Karl Marx proclaimed religion was the opiate of the masses. He believed religion led people down the wrong path and gave them a false sense of security and euphoria. I disagree with Marx but his view on religion is my view on retirement. The promise of retirement is the new opiate of the masses. Our cultural view of retirement lures people into thinking now is the time to become self-centered because it is what you are suppose to do. The prospects of retirement gives a false sense of euphoria and security.
I’m starting a retirement revolution. Retirement is a stupid idea. This stupid idea is being taught everywhere and swallowed up by Baby Boomers faster than they popped pills in the 60s.
Here’s my challenge to you. Check out what the Bible says about retirement. Go ahead. I double dog dare you. Tell me. What did you find? The only passage you might point to is in Numbers and deals with members of the tribe of Levi who are not to work in the Temple after the age of 50. This is NOT dealing with retirement but cultic practices. But that’s it. Nothing else.
This means the Bible has more to say about menstruating women and how to slaughter sacrificial animals than it does retirement.
If you are a Bible student you will recognize there is much in it which teaches the exact opposite of our view of retirement. We are challenged to finish the course (Acts 20:24) and reminded the righteous “still bear fruit in old age.” (Ps. 92:14) The Bible is filled with “don’t quit” and “keep on going.”
We need a grassroots revolution against the conventional view of retirement. I’m only one blade of grass. But I invite you to join me. As you near retirement age, plan on living more of life, not less.
I see retirement as an opportunity to finally have the time and resources to help out where before I could only participate. Even better I can do this without taking away from my family and my health
That’s the idea! For me it’s a time to invest in others more than ever before. Thanks for reading and commenting!
My friend, you are pullin’ out all the stops!
– “…swallowed up by Baby Boomers faster than they popped pills in the 60s.”
– “This means the Bible has more to say about menstruating women and how to slaughter sacrificial animals than it does retirement.”
Yes, preach it! Retirement IS stupid!
Haha! Thanks my friend. I believe it with all my heart. I want to make MORE of a difference in the lives of people now than ever before.
This makes me realize that there didn’t even used to BE retirement, in the way we think of it now. Families lived intergenerationally, and the oldsters helped out with the family work unless and until they were so feeble the youngsters had to take care of them.
Many older people even “died with their boots on,” as we used to say – remember that expression? – and never were invalids at all. Much less self-centered players of bridge and golf.
Studies of longevity often reveal that the oldest ones in a community are the ones who keep working and helping. So you may be on to something here!
Not being a Christian, I can’t say I’m much influenced by what the Bible does or does not say about retirement. My own feeling is that it likely varies from person to person. My husband, who is 72 and manages a bundle of lifelong health issues, is fully in favor of the concept. And then there’s me, a 67-year-old woman with great health and still a lot of get up and go who couldn’t act fully retired if you paid me!
So count me in! I’m in favor of aging gracefully whether or not you ever really “retire.”
Thanks Kathleen for your thoughtful and insightful comment. Yes, not all are Bible readers and I respect that.
Retirement is indeed a very recent invention. I’m glad UR in on the Revolution. It’s clear to me that you get it!
Can you think of Jesus retiring? “Sorry, I don’t heal blind people anymore. I’m trying to get ready to go to the Carebean next week.” or “It’s almost time for my nap.”!
You got it!!