If there is one overriding image everyone would have about their retirement, it would be “peaceful.” The specifics will vary widely based upon individual preferences. The area in which some envision spending their senior years may be rural and pastoral. For others it would be a bit more urban, but it still inspires dreams of days without pressure.
None of us has created a mental picture of a […]
It is Mid-May 2021, and a new wave of young adults recently exited the halls of academia, entering the world of adult responsibilities. Those looming responsibilities present challenges. Sarah Brooks recently identified, on iGrad, lifestyle adjustments (relocation from family and friends) and excessive demands (obligations beyond the workplace) among 5 key challenges graduates face. Sharon Elber, on WorkBloom, cited unrealistic expectations (“I will land my […]
If you are over the age of 40, I would venture a guess that this question has been asked by one spouse, or both, during a vacation. While on a leisurely bike ride along a coastline, relaxing at a shaded sidewalk café along a tree lined street with a cloudless sky above, or recounting the activities of the day on a balcony beneath a canopy of stars, […]
One of the major reasons people avoid planning for their financial future is the fear of making a mistake. There are so many questions, so many choices, and so many variables that it is easy to say, “Forget it. It would be easier to try giving the cat a bath than sort this out.” When a family does eventually decide they do need to plan ahead, the […]
In May of 1989, the British rock group Queen released “I Want It All” from the group’s studio album The Miracle. Critics, and the public, often said the lyrics focus on rebellion and social upheaval. From this interpretation, multiple interest groups adopted it as their theme. However, songwriter Brian May has long declared the song is solely about individual ambition and impatience. The song tells the story […]
The world is in a mess. Every day there seems to be something to disturb or shock us! Operation Warp Speed resulted in vaccines for the novel virus COVID-19 in months instead of years. However, there are concerns about the safety and the efficacy of these miraculous developments. The New York Times published an article worrying, “it’s unclear how well they will curb the spread of […]
December of 2020 is not only a time to eagerly await turning the calendar, this is the opportunity to take our final exam. How have we conducted our lives, and how will we prepare for the coming days ahead?
It is worth noting Rodgers and Hammerstein didn’t include final exams in the lyrics of “My Favorite Things.” I endured examinations as a student, often murmuring along with fellow […]
If you are an elder or staff leader in a local church, this blog post is intended for you. If you serve on the board of a mission work, I hope this reaches your desk. Likewise, if your service includes the responsibility for directing a Christian camp, campus ministry, or nonprofit organization, I hope you will carefully think about the important issue of the future of those […]
Paradigms are powerful. The Oxford English Dictionary defines them as “a pattern or model.” The word was obscure until Thomas Kuhn used it referring to a set of concepts and practices defining a scientific discipline in his 1962 book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Now, it is popularly used to define how someone looks at anything.
Our personal retirement paradigm is built from our hopes and dreams (what […]
Over the years there have been several published advice columnists who have answered questions from readers. Random House distributed Abigail Van Buren’s advice for decades. Ann Landers answered questions from anyone willing to pour out their heart. As recently as 2000, those two trusted advisors were published in over 500 newspapers across the USA.
These two headliners spurred others to offer similar, although more targeted, Q&A columns. Billy […]