Both my parents retired this summer. As I stood in line at the grocery store trying to select a card for them, I was surprised by the negativity portrayed in nearly every card. Few cards acknowledged that work was a form of worship and a way to honor God. Most communicated a sense of relief or envy. It was just another example of our culture’s apathy toward work. Here are a few examples.
Are congratulations in order to someone for surviving a job they hated? As I have already demonstrated, there is a more noble and honorable response to work. Some waiting is worship; other waiting is not. We aren’t called to spend most of our lives longing for retirement.
Our culture’s mentality also minimizes the grieving process that many new retirees experience. I ultimately selected a card for my parents that congratulated them on the new chapter in their lives. It wasn’t a better chapter – just a different one.
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