Retirement with a Twist

So, Paula starts tomorrow. We're all so excited about the change at the Womens Home. Jack and Paula sold their home and are moving in as House Parents of the Womens Family Home. Jack took early retirement from the U of R as a Dr. of Engineering about 7 years ago. Since then, he has been long time (near full time) volunteer with the Program Staff and will be adding the role of Associate Pastor of the Good News Chapel. He and Ken are going to be buddies.

Paula followed the footsteps of her husband and has recently resigned from her government leadership job in the IT department of Community Resources. She has served as a volunteer, board member, and executive member of WARM.

She sent Jack and me a very cool email about a surprise her staff and co-workers did for her. I hope she doesn't mind I share it here. I was just so blessed by their actions and sensitivity to Paula's personality and passion.

Wow, they just put on a surprise retirement tea for me, complete with coursage, speeches, and a zillion good wishes. Knowing where my heart lies, instead of gifts, they collected some food for the Mission (including left-overs from the tea), and $295 in donations, plus $65 in gift certificates from the Cornwall Centre. They even used their cell phones, [to covertly invite Jack] in case we had call display!

When I attended Millar College of the Bible we had a new President who coined a slogan, "Say a good word for Millar." By the end of the school year, that phrase became annoying to me. However, I now see the value in it. Word of mouth advertising can be very powerful!

What do your friends see resonating from you? Did you ever stop to consider that your actions and reactions in life sum up to reflect your passions? You are what you think about, talk about, spend money on. If you love God and live for Him, but others don't see it, something is wrong. You are living a lie. If your friends and family don't know you are a Christian, or that you go to church, or that you volunteer at a RESCUE Mission, something is wrong and you are not being true to the real you, or the Lord.

I was thankful Dr. Peeler asked us to memorize this verse in college:

"Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to everyone that asks you for a reason of the hope that is in you." -1st Peter 3:15