My "beyond" is already upon me and I've found that letting go of all that made up my work life in past decades is the toughest task I've had. I am now dealing with files I should have dumped four years ago along with books I've hung onto because I just might need them. It has taken me four years to adapt to my "beyond," and I'm still in and out of its ramifications. Physically I can't do what once I could do, but my head has not yet caught up with my years and my body. And as I stop to think about it (Thanks, Scot, for putting this on the table!), the other adjustment is to the fact that I've become a "has been" in an academic world with younger scholars doing the publishing that once was my province. All of this is simply to say that our "beyond" can mean adjustments we had not anticipated.
My husband and I talk about the Beyond often. We have kids at home now, so some of our Beyond talk is mostly referring to all of the rest we'll get later - ha! I have few true plans for the Beyond, other than I think I would like to teach. I can't narrow it down much more than that right now, but I know that it's not going to be something that just happens. I try to teach when I'm able now, and I'm attempting to figure out what makes a good teacher, good. It also means that I try to spend as much time as I can as a student right now, as well.
A couple of weeks ago I was at a book club for another book and Bible translations came up in the discussion along with The Message. One of the women in the group had a very strong reaction to The Message, called it terrible, and said it was one of the worst translations out there. Now, I know that The Message can be a polarizing discussion in Christian circles, but it had been years since I had I heard anyone talk about it with such a strong opinion. And having recently finished A Burning in My Bones, it impacted me in a new way. There was no further discussion after her comment was made, because it was clear that a discussion wasn't what she was seeking, but it gave me an illustration for this section of the book. Obviously, the was just the smallest glimpse at what Eugene must have gone through, but I'll forever remember this part of the book. Probably my favorite lines from the whole book came in this section when he responds to one of his many letters. "Three or fours years on each language should equip you to discuss my translation. But I am 82 years old now and so will probably be dead by the time you are ready." I think he'd reached his limit with the critics.
I'm can't believe we only have one more week left in the book. It's become such an enjoyable part of my Thursday mornings. I know I've had a lot of words each week, but I have appreciated this discussion so much and have thankful for the opportunity to participate.
I appreciated that excerpt from his response to one of his letters as well. I do remember the uproar about The Message, and I approached his translation with skepticism at first myself. But now I love to defend it to people who dismiss it off-hand, oftentimes I have found without even actually having read it!
I believe that Scott is right that most people don't get what they want--or anticipate--in their Beyond. I appreciate Alice Mathews' wise observation that "our 'beyond' can mean adjustments we had not fully anticipated. I remember my mentor and friend, Haddon Robinson, saying, "A funny thing happened on my way to retirement." The 'funny thing' was becoming the interim present of a seminary at at 78! I have another ministry leader friend who is spending his retirement caring for his spouse who has Alzheimers.
All of this, as well as Eugene's story, has tempered grandiose plans for my 'beyond.' I would love to keep preaching, writing, teaching, mentoring, etc., without the pressures and pace of a lead pastor role. I would like to get back to my Montana home more frequently to fly fish. Yet that may not be the path God has planned for me. Health and finances and has been' status will have something to say about that. Maybe I'll end up as a greeter at Wal-Mart ... seriously! If so, I'll embrace that role.
A few years ago, a friend made a comment that I took as a wise insight. He said he was enjoying his "retirement" now--in his pre-retirement years. His point was that he was not going to wait until retirement years to do some of the things he wanted to do when he retired. He feared diminished health, energy, and even financial capacity. I've tried to follow that. I use all the vacation and occasional sabbatical time I am given. I try to invest in the lives of my grandkids (six out of seven are here in my town and part of the church I serve) now instead of waiting for that mythical "later when I'm retired." My wife and I try to take trips now that we may not be interested in taking or able to take in the 'beyond years.'
Thanks again, Scot, for hosting this rich discussion. I have really appreciated the insights of all who have posted.
My beyond is "a little less", and interspersed with more gardening, adult children, travel. I've deemed this time as semi-retirement. I want to use what I've learned and continue to learn. I have enjoyed this book immensely and am grateful for the opportunity to follow along with others who are reading. My husband jumped in on the read with me. Each year we buy a book for all our adult children to read that has been meaningful to us. This year it will be "A Burning In My Bones."
Beyond does seem elusive as a mom filling out job applications with tailored made resumes with 3 kids in online school still. This too shall pass. However, knowing that even Eugene Peterson struggled to fully live his beyond is normalizing. The whole “it’s a paraphrase” was something we all had to keep saying when The Message was becoming so widely read initially. Peterson’s dedication to the wording still gives the Scriptures such accessibility and a fresh take that lifts us out of our religiosity into a transcendent sphere where God is truly Emmanuel, living and walking with us, talking like us. I’m a huge U2 fan, and their concerts are like no others. Their song “One” had me worshipping like few church services have- a call to sisters and brothers to join in mutuality to see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Bono is a poet, an artist expressing even some would say, the feminine side of God as his song “She Moves in Mysterious Ways” is rumored to be about the Holy Spirit. Would love to have heard some of the conversations between Peterson and Bono.
My "beyond" is already upon me and I've found that letting go of all that made up my work life in past decades is the toughest task I've had. I am now dealing with files I should have dumped four years ago along with books I've hung onto because I just might need them. It has taken me four years to adapt to my "beyond," and I'm still in and out of its ramifications. Physically I can't do what once I could do, but my head has not yet caught up with my years and my body. And as I stop to think about it (Thanks, Scot, for putting this on the table!), the other adjustment is to the fact that I've become a "has been" in an academic world with younger scholars doing the publishing that once was my province. All of this is simply to say that our "beyond" can mean adjustments we had not anticipated.
My husband and I talk about the Beyond often. We have kids at home now, so some of our Beyond talk is mostly referring to all of the rest we'll get later - ha! I have few true plans for the Beyond, other than I think I would like to teach. I can't narrow it down much more than that right now, but I know that it's not going to be something that just happens. I try to teach when I'm able now, and I'm attempting to figure out what makes a good teacher, good. It also means that I try to spend as much time as I can as a student right now, as well.
A couple of weeks ago I was at a book club for another book and Bible translations came up in the discussion along with The Message. One of the women in the group had a very strong reaction to The Message, called it terrible, and said it was one of the worst translations out there. Now, I know that The Message can be a polarizing discussion in Christian circles, but it had been years since I had I heard anyone talk about it with such a strong opinion. And having recently finished A Burning in My Bones, it impacted me in a new way. There was no further discussion after her comment was made, because it was clear that a discussion wasn't what she was seeking, but it gave me an illustration for this section of the book. Obviously, the was just the smallest glimpse at what Eugene must have gone through, but I'll forever remember this part of the book. Probably my favorite lines from the whole book came in this section when he responds to one of his many letters. "Three or fours years on each language should equip you to discuss my translation. But I am 82 years old now and so will probably be dead by the time you are ready." I think he'd reached his limit with the critics.
I'm can't believe we only have one more week left in the book. It's become such an enjoyable part of my Thursday mornings. I know I've had a lot of words each week, but I have appreciated this discussion so much and have thankful for the opportunity to participate.
I appreciated that excerpt from his response to one of his letters as well. I do remember the uproar about The Message, and I approached his translation with skepticism at first myself. But now I love to defend it to people who dismiss it off-hand, oftentimes I have found without even actually having read it!
I believe that Scott is right that most people don't get what they want--or anticipate--in their Beyond. I appreciate Alice Mathews' wise observation that "our 'beyond' can mean adjustments we had not fully anticipated. I remember my mentor and friend, Haddon Robinson, saying, "A funny thing happened on my way to retirement." The 'funny thing' was becoming the interim present of a seminary at at 78! I have another ministry leader friend who is spending his retirement caring for his spouse who has Alzheimers.
All of this, as well as Eugene's story, has tempered grandiose plans for my 'beyond.' I would love to keep preaching, writing, teaching, mentoring, etc., without the pressures and pace of a lead pastor role. I would like to get back to my Montana home more frequently to fly fish. Yet that may not be the path God has planned for me. Health and finances and has been' status will have something to say about that. Maybe I'll end up as a greeter at Wal-Mart ... seriously! If so, I'll embrace that role.
A few years ago, a friend made a comment that I took as a wise insight. He said he was enjoying his "retirement" now--in his pre-retirement years. His point was that he was not going to wait until retirement years to do some of the things he wanted to do when he retired. He feared diminished health, energy, and even financial capacity. I've tried to follow that. I use all the vacation and occasional sabbatical time I am given. I try to invest in the lives of my grandkids (six out of seven are here in my town and part of the church I serve) now instead of waiting for that mythical "later when I'm retired." My wife and I try to take trips now that we may not be interested in taking or able to take in the 'beyond years.'
Thanks again, Scot, for hosting this rich discussion. I have really appreciated the insights of all who have posted.
My beyond is "a little less", and interspersed with more gardening, adult children, travel. I've deemed this time as semi-retirement. I want to use what I've learned and continue to learn. I have enjoyed this book immensely and am grateful for the opportunity to follow along with others who are reading. My husband jumped in on the read with me. Each year we buy a book for all our adult children to read that has been meaningful to us. This year it will be "A Burning In My Bones."
Beyond does seem elusive as a mom filling out job applications with tailored made resumes with 3 kids in online school still. This too shall pass. However, knowing that even Eugene Peterson struggled to fully live his beyond is normalizing. The whole “it’s a paraphrase” was something we all had to keep saying when The Message was becoming so widely read initially. Peterson’s dedication to the wording still gives the Scriptures such accessibility and a fresh take that lifts us out of our religiosity into a transcendent sphere where God is truly Emmanuel, living and walking with us, talking like us. I’m a huge U2 fan, and their concerts are like no others. Their song “One” had me worshipping like few church services have- a call to sisters and brothers to join in mutuality to see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Bono is a poet, an artist expressing even some would say, the feminine side of God as his song “She Moves in Mysterious Ways” is rumored to be about the Holy Spirit. Would love to have heard some of the conversations between Peterson and Bono.