I'm sure others have noticed this, but when the retirement date is set (especially when it's set quite a ways ahead), it becomes more difficult go about the daily routines. Maybe it's the anticipation of what's going to come, or maybe it's just the fact that you're getting more tired, but the problem and temptation is always there to slow down what you are doing.
A sister-in-law a couple of years ago told me about her pastor down south, who had decided that since he was retiring in a couple of years, it made no sense for him to bother teaching confirmation class to the children. That is, of course, the worst-case scenario, and the man should have been deposed immediately.
At least I understand his feelings better now. With your ministry winding down, with the people paying less attention to you than they normally did, it can be extremely easy to duck out on some of the things that you would normally do. The Lord is helping me avoid that by continuing to provide challenges – another death the last week and a member who thinks I'm terrific is suffering from bone cancer (and that doesn't count other older members of the congregation whose health is declining).
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