… For Something Better

WED., FEB. 16, 2000, 9:00 AM
OFFICE, PULLIAM

The whole of this spiritual admonition is, of course, “You can/should give up something good for something better.” This is quite a “relative” statement. There are many “forms” of goodness, some always better than some others… and… some better in some circumstances, but not in others.

You have retired from being an active professor, with 3 or more regular courses each semester, with classes most days of each week. This was quite a “good” in your life for many years, but, in this portion of this earth life, this Emeritus status is better. You have no desire to be preparing for a class… or being ready to counsel ( 9:08 / 9:11 ) a student. You are pleased to have this small office, as a “way-station” on your off ramp, a fine, quiet place for Teachings.

Your letter of resignation from the Session and from the office of Clerk was read, last evening, and you did get (as suggested in your letter) a small, polite round of applause. It was moved, seconded, and carried that this resignation be accepted, and in two months you shall have given up another “good” in your life, for something better – no continuing responsibility in your Church’s life. That was not a “good”… or a “better” during the 46 years of your life as an Elder, but it is now. The “institutional church” can now continue its “course,” without you as an official leader. “Been there, done that.”

You haven’t been to a professional convention since your retirement, and you wonder if you have given this up, too. You realize that in another year or so there will be fewer people who remember you, and one of the joys of these meetings, over the years, was the “reunions” that these meetings provided. You’ll have to consider that remaining here, in a quiet, expected mode is also a good, which may now be a “better.”

There are trips being planned for the summer, various renewals of the life of your larger family. These will be maintained… after the relations with colleague professionals have waned.

Reading has not be as regular and as pleasurable as you expected it to be. Your losses of memory, translating to “what was that I just read?” are bothersome. Hence you tend to read mostly what is forgettable anyway, such as most of the daily news. You have two “things’ to read now – a chapter from a book and a small book, on dying. Make a bit more effort to retain and muse on what you read in these.

I’ll speak liberally, now, and utter that it can be at least a minor good to see your study, your veranda, and your shed in their accustomed “messy state.” Then I’ll say, as a suggestion, that putting these in order, which you could do in a day or so, would be “better.” You should at least try it, to see if I’m right.

You do appreciate, and do read, occasionally, these Teachings of Mine to you. Yet some of these are now part of the “mess” in your study. Writing what you hear Me saying to you is a top priority (with nothing better), but keeping them in good order is a second priority. I just am not humble in relation to this Partnership of you and Me. It is primarily for your continuing spiritual education and edification, but it also will be a valuable contribution to some, in the future. We are leaving quite a “paper trail”!

Another comment on travel: in your “imagination” (still often active) you can see the “good” in traveling… to both coasts, to Montana, to Hawaii, with some extended visiting. That could be pleasureful, but it also could be wearing. Then you can see remaining here, keeping your Farm somewhat neat and functioning, as a potential “better” – for you, at this time in your life. It is not as preferable an alternative as what you have given up in your church scene… or in this university setting, but you shall have to consider… what is the “better”? And you may have to do some traveling, just to test it out.