The New Rhythm of Retirement 

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

I have a goodly heritage.”

Psalm 16. 6

It dawned on me yesterday:

this is the first weekend in June,

which for three plus decades

meant one of the busiest days of the year.

As my own busy day drew toward sunset

seated on a cushioned glider

looking at garden, field and forest

I counted the blessings accrued since sunrise.

The difference from days of yore

came not in the absence of well-earned rest

but in the appreciation of the pace of a day

begun and ended with reflection.

Nearly two years into this chapter

the rhythm of life is no longer driven

by a calendar of events requiring

presence, patience, support and decisiveness.

Now opportunities for fellowship and service come

not as part of a job description

or to pave the way for others to succeed

but as a matter of choice.

The gift of each day is welcomed

work and play find their balance

with time and resilience to meet both

the unexpected challenge and the comforting ride of routine.

The rhythms of life may have changed

but the sense of satisfaction at day’s end remain

as accomplishments large and small are noted with gratitude

for strength, stamina and creativity provided along the Way.