Road in Retirement

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed now we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5  Swallowed in Purpose I am going to focus the next couple blogs on my journey “to be swallowed up by life.” I can’t explain this any better than the verse above; albeit loaded with symbolism and metaphors. We are born with human bodies, earthly dwellings like tents. The tents eventually decay and die, but in Christ we have opportunity to “put on a spiritual dwelling made by God." It's that new spirit or soul that can commune with God, now with purpose, and which eventually can reside with God in a new heavenly form. So, in my retirement days currently, I k...

God is Good My last blog focused on God’s goodness in the midst of me receiving a new diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). I received the news of MSA while traveling to acquire my wheelchair (WC) accessible van. The moving parts to this journey were mind-boggling but God, our good, good God had given me words, not audible or anything but loud and clear in the spirit. I was to move on and trust him for tools, like the van, to push back on the complications of this disease. Joshua Nearing the end of his life, Joshua, Moses’ successor and understudy, offered parting words to the Israelites as they settled into their new land. Joshua said, “Not one word of all the good words which the Lord God speaks fails" (Joshua 23). A hint that God was at work in the van situation came from the A&J Mobility salesman’s reaction to my requested specifications: a blue Chrysler Pacifica with adaptive cruise, backup camera, higher roof, fully installed accessibility equipment, and fewer than...

A New Route for My Retirement Road My next two blogs are centered around the goodness of God, a new diagnosis, my fancy wheelchair (WC) and my hunt for a used WC-accessible van. I am hitting my road in retirement hard and trying to use available tools and medical helps to serve God and experience his goodness best I can. My WC and a WC van provide mobility; pretty important components of a “road in retirement” for someone like me battling Parkinson’s disease (PD). Most recently, after a spinal tap test of brain proteins, I received some interesting news; a new diagnosis.  God is Good Flooding my soul most recently is the truth of God’s goodness in leading me and Chris during this part of our life; fighting for mobility, fulfilling our purpose, and finding delight in  His Presence. These words come into my spirit: The LORD is good to all, he does good things, his mercy and goodness are forever poured out over all that He has made. Psalms 100, 119 and 145. Think about those wor...

St. Peter’s Prayer In my last blog I mentioned that the apostle Peter wrote a prayer to a group of Christ followers in Turkey (ancient Cappadocia) who were undergoing severe religious persecution. He prays that they will not complain. What? First-century persecution was ruthless and without judicial guidelines that our modern-day society would demand and expect. It seems harsh. One of the definitions of complaining is to lament; often a heartfelt expression of true emotional pain. The Bible is full of laments. To be honest, there are times that I can see how uttering the negative dark truth, pain or difficulty of a matter, might help us vent septic emotions, leading to a more peaceful homeostasis. Broadening his prayer to us, Peter seems to intimate that we can all overcome complaining using antidotes that ward off deleterious complications. He lists three powerful remedies we can put into action to replace grumbling about our plight. Peter says we should love one another, be hospitabl...

Announcement When Chris, my blog typist and editor asked me what the next topic was going to center on, I announced it would be on complaining. He objected because he sensed the entire blog was going to be centered on him. He was sort of correct, but he asked for a topic and I gave him one. Then we had a discussion, meaning spoken words (Chris) and the AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device (me).  Chris: “So are you insinuating that I have been complaining a lot lately?” Me (AAC): “Yes.” Chris: “But I just had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand with the right hand coming up soon with no additional help to care for your needs and schedule.” Me (AAC): “Yes.” Chris: “Yes? You understand my plight and realize complaining is just part of dealing with it? Or yes, my complaining is out of control and wearing on your soul.” Me (AAC): “Yes.” A New Quest So, this discourse sent Chris on 15-mile bike ride. When he returned, he mumbled (same Greek word in the Bible for “com...

Family Dynamics Everyone’s family dynamic and upbringing is different; leading to varied relational experiences. Some of us are extremely close and do all sorts of family activities with parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Others of us, for whatever reason are just not close with immediate family or distant relatives. And still others have no family! I am not writing a treatise on family dynamics here, but I have connected with siblings and close relatives more than ever later here in life; now on my road in retirement with Parkinson’s (PD). Maybe retirement is designed as a great opportunity to “re-engage” with family. The Bible and Families I assume that most planned family gatherings are like ours, never a dull moment with tons of loquacious banter and storytelling. The bible records many genuine family discussions. Here are a few that come to mind, some often very descriptive and honest:  “Where is Abel your brother?”  “How should I know...