CrossTies

 
Volume 3, Number 6               

June 9, 2003   

From Graduation to Retirement - It must be a sign of old age. I attended several high school and college graduation parties this year and couldn't stop myself from thinking about retirement. Hope and anticipation fills these young men and women with plans for college and for starting their careers. Retirement is light years away. Yet there I was, thinking about retirement. Fortunately, I said nothing to them about it. The whole idea of retirement is nowhere as exciting as graduation. That is, until you reach a certain age and find yourself longing to get out from under and to be free to go and do what you've always dreamed about.  And yet there are those of us who go in and out of retirement several times. All this got me to thinking about this concept. Does the Bible have anything to say about it? Not directly, because retirement is not a Bible concept.

 

    No doubt, the first thing one has to do is decide what we're talking about. Right there is where we get stuck. People come up to me all the time with this question, "So, how's retirement going?" or "I thought you were retired. What happened?"

   

    At that point I want to grab them by the hand and yank them over to some quiet corner and say, "Can we talk? Can we discuss what you understand it is that I am supposed to be doing with retirement?"  Of course, I don't do that, because I know they'll say, "Oh, I know. You retired ministers don't really retire. You just go out to pastor some other place."

 

    The idea of retirement got started over in Germany  forty years after the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod formed here in the United States. The concept originated  in 1889 when statisticians reporting to Prussian Imperial Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck determined, on an actuarial basis, that 65 was the ideal age for establishing an inexpensive pension plan. It was inexpensive in that many retirees would not live long enough to collect much money from their pension.  Retirement at 65 reached the United States and became the standard practice for purposes of Social Security in 1935. For the next 45 years, until 1979, attainment of age 65 signaled vocational retirement for most people. An amendment to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act has now increased the retirement age to 70 for many workers.

 

    When does this "oldness" that signals retirement begin? Your answer probably depends on how old you are yourself. In a telephone survey, adults ranging in age from early to late adulthood were asked when old age started. The average answer for all participants was 63. However, for those over 60 the average answer was in the 70s. In general, the younger the person, the earlier that person believes old age begins. The Baby Boom generation - the cohort of Americans born between 1946 and 1964 - is now approaching this so-called retirement age. The oldest of that generation is turning 57 this year. Some are already taking early retirement. What all this will mean for Social Security funds in the U.S.A. is a much discussed political football.

 

Lots of questions arise at the point of retirement. Do I have enough money set aside to stop working? Should I keep working at something because of interest and enjoyment? Should I start up my own business or a new career? Should I move to a new area? Will I have to scale back my lifestyle? Do I have any health problems that will cause problems? Will I now be able to devote myself to a special hobby or special interest, doing things I never had time for earlier? Especially important to many, will I be able to live close to my children and grandchildren? Will I have to depend on my children during retirement?

 

In order to thoroughly study these and related issues, I refer you to some important published materials from Concordia Publishing House (http://shop.cph.org/Index.pasp?ct=647345425) :

 

 

 

There are also some excellent helps at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. They have many retirement strategies and products that are useful from the financial viewpoint. Check in at http://www.thrivent.com/planning/strategies/index.html.

Much needs to be said about this topic. Aging does not, however, change the purpose of our lives as believers. It merely issues a wake-up call to what we may have missed along the way, and, paradoxically, may in the lesser time we have left on this earth, provide us with more time and inclination to reflect. The Psalm writer says, "Lord, teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12.

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How goes the book? I know, I know. We keep talking about it, month after month. Perhaps this will be the month when we finally do have our first CrossTies book, The First Words of Jesus, available. We're dangerously close. Keep watching our website.

Meanwhile, we have several authors talking with us. We are looking at future materials. There is always a great need for well-written Bible studies and training materials.

Training Materials and Workshops. Here are our workshops and workbooks we've prepared to train leaders. Check back with us for details. We want to serve you.

·        The First Words of Jesus: A study of the Eight Beatitudes

·        Care Givers: training laity to use the Beatitudes in ministry

·        Mentor Couples: Guiding pre-marital  or newly wed couples

·        Four Perspectives on Love: Applying the wisdom of God's Word

·        Reclaiming the Sabbath: teaching from God's Word on the use of time

 

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Keep our work in your prayers. Above all, we need your prayers. Also, if the Lord moves you to support our work, join us. Become a member. Send a one time or a monthly donation. We are only able to continue because of your prayers and your love. For more information go http://crosstiesministries.org/membership/membership_information2.htm.

 

Dr. Alvin H. Franzmeier

CrossTies Theological Director. Write to me at   alandsyl@airmail.net

 
 
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