At one point in our lives we all need to retire. In its root form, the French word means to retreat or withdrawal. Depending on our life circumstances withdrawing looks different. For some of us this means paid job responsibilities at age 65. Others of us need to retire to our couches to take an afternoon nap, or take an actual sabbath one day a week, or spend time daily resting in God’s presence. But we all need to retire.
Retiring has a way of making us more focused on the work that we have to do. Today our community remembered Vida Dutton Scudder - educator, peace maker, and social advocate. You can read more about Vida here. Vida was born in India to Christian parents in 1861. Later she was confirmed as an Epsicopalian. She was a good student. She loved English Literature and had a profound love for God. Her education, spirituality, and advocate spirit led her to do many great things. However, at age forty Vida found herself broken down and in the middle of a mental crisis because she had taken on so much. She was tired, broken, and ended up taking two years off of life.
I have a feeling we relate to Vida. We try our best to balance jobs, work, family, spirituality, our sense of purpose in the world, and daily tasks. We often feel like we have too much. We often feel as if we need to retreat. Vida knew she had taken on too much. So, she retired at forty for two years. She healed and she came back stronger than ever. She started countless support groups for women, immigrants, and union workers. She became a pacifist during World War I. At a normal age, she took real retirement. And then, she authored sixteen books on spirituality and social consciousness.
Vida knew about the importance of rest and retreat. She knew that the more we find holy rest, the more we come back empowered and renewed to the work that we are called to do. Those who practice Eastern religion have a wonderful word - Dharma. The word has meaning meanings, but one of them is the actions of living rightly so that one might fulfill the purposes of the divine in their life. As we are all different, we as individuals, are the only ones who can decide what that purpose is. As Christians, we might translate Dharma as vocation. We recognize that at our baptism we were called into the ministry of Christ and that God has gifted us with unique gifts that allow us to do God’s work in the world. Using those gifts is our vocation.
Often our daily lives get busy. We forget that in the midst of the chaos, todo lists, appointments, and tasks that we have a life’s calling to fulfill. Returning to God through rest, retirement, respite, and retreat refocuses our energies reminding us that we are called to do God’s work in the world. No matter how busted we are retiring and retreating has a way of rejuvenating and energizing us for the work ahead.
May we follow the example of Vida Dutton Scudder and retire greatly, redirect ourselves, and then get back out there to love and serve the Lord and do the work we are called to do.
Good luck ya’ll. Get to retiring.
