Too soon to quit

Some of you read last week that I retired at the end of July. This new phase of my life has prompted me to ask what I want to do now and how I can make my remaining years count in a meaningful way. One way I am trying to do this is by learning from a couple who regularly record YouTube videos about retiring successfully. Mark and Jody Rollins retired in 2019, and in one of their recent videos, they caution against what they call, “retirement drift.”

The reality is that anyone can drift. I came across an Our Daily Bread Devotional shared by Mike Wittmer on March 27, 2024, telling the story of Cindy, who quit her job and began working at a charitable nonprofit organization. She was excited about her new opportunity to make a difference, but she soon realized her coworkers were completely unmotivated to help the nonprofit fulfill its purpose and even mocked the organization’s mission. Many made excuses for not working hard and merely went through the motions as they searched for better-paying positions.

Cindy wished she had never left her previous job. While the nonprofit’s mission was admirable, those whose job it was to help the organization achieve its worthy goals were not on board; they had lost sight of why they were there and were aimlessly adrift.

We can easily lose our way when we enter a new phase of life, but anyone can lose their way at any point in life’s journey. It can happen when we are young or old, successful or unsuccessful, married or single. It can also happen as we try to balance career and marriage, starting retirement, or approaching the end of our lives.

One definition of the word “drift” found in Dictionary.com is, “the deviation of an aircraft from a set course due to cross winds.” In simple terms, drifting can mean getting off course. All of us are guilty of this at numerous moments in our lives. We become distracted, frustrated, discouraged, or depressed, take our eyes off the road, and then realize we have begun to drift.

We find meaning as we stay focused and confront life’s challenges rather than disengaging from them. King Solomon expressed the solution to drifting this way, “Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, NLT)

Whether you are early in your journey, in the middle of your trek, or approaching the final chapters of life, getting off track is always unwise. As Solomon encouraged, “Whatever you do, do well…” If you find yourself currently drifting, seek God’s help, make an intentional course correction, and get back on track, for it is always too soon to quit!