A Race Well Run

 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 (ESV)

Paul’s words also apply to Pastor Donald Stock, who is retiring after 32 years in the pastoral ministry, the last twenty of which were spent serving my congregation. It is his second career but his longest one, and he has been a dedicated pastor.

As a minister’s daughter, I’m well aware that pastors aren’t perfect, but Pastor Stock has run the race well in spite of it.

Pastor Stock and I fully agree on the major tenets of Christianity—those confessed in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds and that Christ is the only way to God—but we don’t always agree on lesser theological issues. That’s never changed his love for me as a member of the body of Christ, and I really appreciate his ministry to our congregation and the wider church body.

Retirement doesn’t mean being put out to pasture, though. Or, if it does, the pasture can be a beautiful one. I took the photo at the Pololu Valley Lookout on the big island of Hawaii many years ago. Although the horse is resting in the picture, he had plenty of room to run and even to gallop. If I know Pastor Stock as well as I think I do, he will continue to serve where needed. Although I’m not sure he’s even capable of slowing down, hopefully he will turn his gallop into a trot.

Pastor Stock still has more of the course to run before his race is over. But when it is, I expect him to be able to say with Paul that he has finished his course and the ministry that he received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

God’s blessings to Pastor and to Beth in his retirement.

School's Out

When I first met my husband, he was a college dropout working as a supervisor in a steel mill. Thirty-eight years later, he has a master’s degree and a plus thirty* and has just retired after 21 years of teaching.

Roland worked in the mill for 20 years before following his heart back to college and into teaching. (He actually worked there for 16 years but got credit for his four years in the Navy.) Then he threw himself into his chosen second career.

The picture was taken at Roland’s college graduation in 1992. He substituted for a year before accepting a teaching position at East Chicago Central High School.

In his first years at Central, Roland taught both World and U.S. History and an occasional Economics class. More recently, he has concentrated on AP and honors U.S. History courses. He has also won his share of teaching awards, which include an Outstanding Educator award from the University of Chicago, a Teacher of Excellence Award from the East Chicago Education Foundation, and three Distinguished Teacher awards.

Maybe you can tell that I’m proud of him.

Now Roland’s life is changing yet again. And because he’ll be home more, mine will change, too.

He hasn’t mapped out his new course yet, but he will.

May it be a happy retirement.

__________

* For the non-teachers among us, a plus thirty is thirty hours of graduate credits beyond the master’s degree, which brings a step up in pay.

To is Better Than From

Last week’s snowstorm delayed Roland’s return to school by three days.  His original concern was that he would have to make up the days after his official retirement date at the end of May. But as one day turned into two turned into three and the boredom got to him, he started realizing that he really needs to figure out how he is going to spend his retirement years.

I’ve never been concerned about the financial aspects of his pending retirement, but I do wish that he knew what he wants to be when he grows up. He’s been giving it some thought, but I won’t be satisfied until he has a plan. His health (and my sanity) will be much better if he isn’t sitting around watching TV all day.

When I “retired” four years ago, I didn’t retire from the law—I retired to write. When my father “retired,” he didn’t retire from the ministry—he retired to write his memoirs and work with his hands (he particularly enjoyed carpentry) and travel. When my mother “retired,” she didn’t retire from teaching—she retired to be his travel partner and to sing in two choirs and play handbells. And she wrote her memoirs, too.

My parents spent several winters volunteering at Xocenpich, Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula near Merida. They also took a number of trips to the Holy Land. My mother went on most of them, but the picture shows my father just before he left for the Middle East alone in the spring of 1992, when he was 81 years old. He planned to (and did) hike around the Holy Land with nothing except what he could fit into that backpack, and he grew the beard so that he didn’t have to worry about shaving.

Daddy lived to be 88 years old, and he didn’t slow down until the last year. Mama is 94 and is as active as her age allows her to be, attending church services at the assisted living facility, playing Bingo, reading, and traveling with her children—including a trip to Yellowstone National Park this past summer.

It’s okay to retire from a job. But it’s much better to retire to an active life.  

A Beautiful Pasture

There are times in our lives when we feel like we've been put out to pasture. Retirement comes to mind (even if it is completely voluntary and eagerly anticipated, as mine was), but it can also happen when we send a child off to kindergarten or college, lose a job, or move away from family and friends. If fact, it can happen anytime we feel lonely or unappreciated.

Don't get me wrong. Being put out to pasture isn't a bad thing. In fact, it can be inspiring and joyful. That's because, like the horse in the picture (who lives by the Pololu Valley Lookout on the big island of Hawaii), we can live in a beautiful pasture.

My "retirement" pasture has me galloping about so much that I would welcome the chance to sit down and relax. Yes, I anticipated the time spent writing--that was the whole purpose. I also welcomed the opportunity to be actively involved in two writers' organizations (besides my regular Saturday afternoon critique group). What I didn't anticipate was the time commitment.

Not that I'm sorry about being so involved. Writing is a solitary task, and the writing groups remind me that I'm not alone. More importantly, they make me part of a wider community that interacts socially as well as professionally.

When my parents retired, they increased the time they spent traveling, writing, and volunteering. To them, retirement was an opportunity, not a curse. At 90, my mother still travels and sings in two choirs. She is also writing her memoirs and has caught my father's bug for letters to the editor.

That's the secret. Whatever (or wherever) your pasture is, make it beautiful. Get involved in church activities, find a part-time job, or volunteer. If you keep busy, you won't have time to feel lonely or unappreciated.

There are a number of ways to find volunteer opportunities. Try your local library to see how you can help with its programs (for example, working in its book sale room or tutoring illiterate adults) and for listings of other community organizations. On-line resources can also hook you up with volunteering opportunities. Examples are http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/, http://www.volunteermatch.org/, www.volunteer.gov/gov (especially good for finding volunteer opportunities at national parks and recreation sites), and http://www.dosomething.org/ (which appears to cater to a younger crowd).

As long as you keep busy, any pasture can be beautiful.

No Looking Back

December 31st was my graduation day.

You’re staring at the screen and wondering what high school or college has graduation on New Year’s Eve.

None that I know of. So what am I talking about?

After over 30 years as a licensed attorney, I finally “retired.” And when talking about my retirement, I sometimes start saying “graduation” before catching myself.

Maybe that’s because my “retirement” is a graduation of sorts. Graduation from one phase of my life to another: from making my living as a lawyer to being a full-time writer.

By now, you may be saying, “this is one of those mind-numbing legal blogs, so I guess I’ll stop reading.” Please don’t, because that isn’t the focus at all. Nor is this a personal journal where you will discover what I had for breakfast or read about my daily activities.

I intend to write about the insight I get from something that happened to me during the previous week. Something big or small. Unusual or ordinary. Funny or just plain embarrassing. But hopefully each incident will be something you can identify with.

Since this is my first blog post, let me introduce myself. My name is Kathryn Page Camp, and I am a wife, mother, writer, and speaker. And I worked in the legal department at National Futures Association for the past 23 years.

Some of you may have heard of Bernie Madoff and his Ponzi scheme, which defrauded millions of investors. Although NFA did not regulate Madoff’s securities fund, we have shut down other Ponzi schemes. So here is how I described my graduation in the company-wide e-mail I sent just before turning off the light in my office for the last time:

The steady job and salary
Make NFA the place to be.
But now it’s time to say goodbye
And write and write until I die.
If the money doesn’t match the dream,
I can always start a Ponzi scheme.

But will I? More about that next week . . . .