Orient Express
For your consideration…
I should not be surprised that at today’s message. In conversations in the last few days, different stories have led to it.
As you get older and start thinking about retirement, you have to decide if you want to take your social security as soon as you are eligible or wait so that the per month draw is larger. When I was getting ready to retire I used to sit and chat with the controller at one of the manufacturing plants I had products in. Bob was retiring the same day as I was. We would chat about our plans and when we should start drawing social security. Frankly, it is like the lottery. The government has run the numbers and knows how many people will die before they reach 72. Bob and I retired on a Friday. Unfortunately, Bob had a heart attack and was dead by the next Friday. He never collected his social security.
One of my neighbors, Norma, and her husband Chuck had lots of plans to travel. They visited out-of-town friends and family but never took big vacations. They had a list of places they were going to go to. Chuck passed away in his recliner before he ever retired. Norma does not travel at all. She is not comfortable traveling or going out to eat alone. All of their plans died with Chuck.
My cousin, Karen, and her husband dreamed of taking a vacation on the Orient Express. They had a separate savings account for it. They had an actual date they were going to do it. The date was just a couple of months ago. It was a very very sad day for Karen because Ed passed away three years ago.
Our message today reminds us that time does not stop for anyone and it offers no guarantees. Why wait? If we have the ways and means, do it now. Don’t wait.
That is the HOPE. And so it is.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…
-Affirm…“I am loved.”
-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”
-Drink lots of water.
-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.
-Don’t wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
What made me smile yesterday…
-Breakfast with Dianne.
-A fun surprise birthday party for Helen.
-Keeping Conner for the night.
-A good book.
-Catching up with Kathy.
Love, Blessings, and Gratitude,
Rev. Chris
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