Sefan Jonasson just posted an item about his retirement from the UUA staff. I want to thank him for his work. Its been very meaningful for the congregations and ministers with whom hes worked, lie he was very useful to congregations in the Front Range in Colorado when I was there. I just retired for the fourth time, after serving as the Interim in our SF church. I did a good job in a difficult situation and am proud that John Buehrens was willing to come to our great city to carry on will have, I believe, a great ministry in this historic church. My dilemma is what to say to people when they ask what Im going to do now, as though I should have it all planned out. Its as though ministers should never stop working - you know, ordained for life. I am that and will never stop having ministry as being a defining fact of my life. But so is being a husband and father and now grandfather. An honest answer is I dont know what Im going to do, with the exception of responding when someone asks me to do something where I thank I can make a contribution, like becoming a compensation consultant and working with ministers and congregatios who need some help regaining their perspective These are things I can do, so why not do them? But my real answer to those who ask me what Im going to do is I dont know. Having saved enough over time to be, relatively, financially secure - partly because of going back to work so many times - means not having to scramble for income.This is one of the few luxuries of my growing older - the other is seeing my children all grown up and grandchildren following in their footsteps. Its not easy for all of them, but it[s not easy for a lot of us. To be of use, goes the poem. There are lots of ways to be of use. In fact, this week, if got a hole lot of being of use to do, Nope, ministry doesnt ever end. But how we do ministry sure can, including for me now writing a childrens story for another grandchild, if one is ever to come.Its a way of reaching out to a future thats yet to come.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:47:37 +0000
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