WOW, I am continually learning how to appreciate retirement more every day! Here is an overview of my work life: delivered newspapers as a teenager; pumped gas at a filling station; worked part-time through my four years at Purdue University; worked at the airport-after ten years my job was removed from the budget; became a real estate broker; built a successful Amway business that collapsed; employed by an engineering company, a contractor, an architect and owned all or part of four businesses. My goal was to retire by the age of fifty-five and I only missed it by 15 years – fully retired at 70.
That was tiring just to summarize! My wife and I both retired in 2015. We downsized to a paired home (double) that is half the size of the home that we sold. We sat back and enjoyed the freedom for which we had planned very carefully. We had both committed our lives to the Lord and thankfully, He woke us up to the fact that this new life is to do want He (our Lord) put us here for. So, we woke up and began volunteering for different duties at church and began helping at Sheltering Wings where I found a new commitment (Men In Action). Men IN Action was started as a program by Sheltering Wings to engage men in the prevention of violence by building one another up, holding one another accountable, challenging the status quo, and navigating life by being positive role models for our youth and each other. My time with Men IN Action has shown me there is a lot for me to do in my retirement (mentor, committee member, volunteer, and more).
Retirement opens up our eyes, if we allow it, to spending the days of our later years of life on this earth serving. Some of my other favorite ways to spend my time is helping and visiting with family and friends (old and new); more time studying the Lord’s words and His expectations; becoming a better husband, in my case a better grandfather and great grandfather; ultimately getting out of our favorite chairs “TO GO and HELP OTHERS!”
Steve Craney
A Man IN Action
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