For a certain period prior to full retirement, I dreamed of the expansion of my leisure time. I envied other retirees as I drooled over the shared pictures on Facebook of sunny climates and fun activities. I did expand some of my social life during semi-retirement to include games with fellow condo residents, painting classes and volunteer opportunities. With the advent of full retirement, my activities increased. I began using my car as a tool for reaching out to my neighbors, many of whom no longer drive.
As well, I was more available to assist my grandsons to come and go for visitation with their parents. I enjoy my full schedule which I prefer to wondering how to keep busy. However, recently the number of jam-packed
days has become a problem. For instance, a recent rainy day started off with the usual Monday schedule:
9:15-10:00AM—Exercise with neighbor
10:15AM-12:15PM—Writer’s Group meeting
12:30PM—Take other neighbor to the gym
1:15PM—Pick up neighbor from the gym
2:00PM—Prayer, Bible, & Journal (PBJ) with friend on the phone
Suddenly, I received a text from my former daughter-in-law to arrange for a meeting in Deer Park to bring back my youngest grandson from his visit with his dad so he could go to school at 8:45AM.
Okay, so PLAN B: Skip exercise with neighbor, take grandson and then go directly to Writer’s Group. I explain to my exercise partner my situation and start to head out my door. Then I receive the second text. School has been cancelled due to icy roads. She will contact me when the roads improve, so I can meet her with my grandson for transport.
PLAN C: I go to my neighbor’s place for delayed and hurried exercise. While preparing to leave for Writer’s Group, I receive a call from my son. My older grandson has called to inform him that he is sick and needs a ride home from school.
PLAN D: I head for the high school to pick up my older grandson. After I arrive and text him that I’m there, I call my Writer’s Group leader to let her know I probably won’t make it. My grandson comes stumbling out of school and hangs his head out the car window all the way to my condo, repeating to himself, “Don’t do it; don’t do it.” After we arrive, he staggers over to the steady stream of accumulated rainwater that is headed toward the sewer drain of our driveway and deftly vomits into it. This is God’s perfect timing, since the water volume carries it directly into the nearby sewer. No muss, no fuss, and thankfully, no mess to clean up in my car or on the elevator. (After all, I had prayed for favor that morning.)
In addition to this scenario, on the way home, my tire pressure light came on. Since I’ve been having issues with this and had already taken my car into the tire shop, I surmise that the so-called earlier solution they’d found last time was not sufficient.
PLAN E: After settling my grandson into my condo with blankets, pillows, and a throw-up bowl, I head out the door for the tire store. Hopefully, I can get the tire fixed before I need to return my youngest grandson to his mother. While waiting in the store for the repair, I contact my other neighbor to report my situation and the unlikely possibility of taking her to the gym. Thank goodness, the steady rain has discouraged her from going anyway.
So, this type of scenario becomes more regular in my so-called leisurely retirement. The Bible says: “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9 NLT).” That is my only guarantee that the way I spend my days is significant and of use to my Lord. I guess I’ll have to wait for leisure until I enter those pearly gates, or will God have work for me there as well?