First Day Of Retirement in Honor of Terry Fink a Child of God.

I woke up this AM a little afraid. I had no place to go. I had no plan for the day. I have been going to AT&T/Southern Bell/Bell South/AT&T data centers for 41 years. They laid me off after 41 years? 47% of the people laid off in my department were over 60, but AT&T would never discriminate because of age. That was what all the HR classes said for 41 years. I trusted them completely —  lol!

Enough complaining!

It was a great day! There is life after corporate America. I would have never quit. I would have been there until I died! You have to go to work. You have to slave all the days of your life. I truly believed that? Thank God he took me out kicking and screaming. Most of the good things in my life, God has to lead me kicking and screaming. Of course, my 44 year old son-in-law Terry Fink died on Friday. I realized that life is more than making money. Some battles are bigger than that Class 1 project that has to be completed today. Some battles cost a huge price for everyone involved. Going to lunch with my grieving family is more important than the projects at AT&T. Picking up my grieving grand babies is more important than the projects at AT&T.

EVERYTHING I DID TODAY WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROJECTS AT AT&T!

This is a DAILY RUN WITH GOD blog. I had a great 4 mile run with my father this AM. I didn’t have to rush. I meet my grieving daughter at her clinic and we had a father/daughter time for just a few minutes. My run was so great. It was the first day in the 30’s here in NC this fall. The stress of 5 months melded out of my body. The ups and downs all seemed to fade away as I ran and had fellowship with my Father. Cancer is EVIL! It destroyed Terry’s body and life. In 2 days , he went from going to work to being paralyzed.  Terry spent a lot of time talking to his Father (God) his last week on earth.

Jesus taught his disciples how to live with stress and grieve, after his murder:

^{John 20 : 19} On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! 

It is the PEACE given by the Holy Spirit that will take you through the hard places in life. God has GIVEN us all we need for life and godliness in his word. Running is the special time God has given me to worship and fellowship with him. God has that place for you too. I am 64, 5 feet 10 inches, 230 pounds. I should not be running, but God has given me this special time. You need to find that special place that will lead you into fellowship with the father. It could be in your room, garden, walking downtown and millions of other places. God has that place for you. One meaning of prayer is to kiss the face of God, you just need to find that place and God will show you that special place.

MIND CHANGE: God has given me everything I need for this life. It doesn’t come from money or position. It comes from relationship with God. He will meet you any where you will talk with him. Just go to your favorite place and he will meet you there. You just have to start talking too him. He is not angry!  He loves you no matter how you feel. He made you and understands your life and feelings.

PS: Joe Walsh of the Eagles sings these words: They say I’m lazy but it takes all my time! Retirement might be just what I need for a great relationship with my Father. God likes spending times with his kids. I think he liked Carl this morning with no place to go and just spending time with him. I know I enjoyed and needed his fellowship. It has been real bad for 3 years and he helped it all melt away with one simple run! Maybe I can get back to the real calling in my life -sharing the GOOD NEWS. Maybe he has a new place to meet you also.