Week 437
Positive Post Sunday, July 13, 2025…. Week 437. Well, I’ve survived my first 6 weeks of retirement! It’s been pretty action packed and busy (A few mini vacations, getting post-retirement finances and benefits situated and starting some of the home projects I’ve put off for so long). Amongst the business, Michele and I recently began attending daily Mass one morning each week. It’s become more than just a practice, it feels like a sacred recalibration, a way to center our week around what truly matters. In the stillness of that morning hour, I find myself praying more fervently, not only for guidance, but for clarity.
I’ve also carved out time to read most days. As previously posted, my current reading has been focused on books related to retirement and making the later years of life meaningful. Although each book is unique, all the books I have read have a few common themes:
- Life’s goal is not retirement, but rather everlasting life
- We can have a greater impact after retirement than during our work life
- We must identify and use our God given gifts to have an impact
- How we use and share these gifts will determine our legacy and faithfulness
- Without purpose in our lives, we will not contribute to the expansion of God’s kingdom
- Through service to others and spiritual progress we can increase our happiness
While posting last week’s PPS, I experienced yet another reminder from our good Lord of the sacred call to use the gifts He’s entrusted to me for the building of His kingdom. Right in the middle of uploading the post, a book kept surfacing on my screen, almost insistently. Many might dismiss it as mere AI coincidence, but the title struck a chord: “You Are Called: Discover Your God-Given Gifts to Fulfill Your Purpose” by John Bevere.
Was it random? Perhaps. But in the quiet spaces of faith, I’ve come to recognize that God often speaks through what others call chance. This timely message echoed the very essence of my reflections, the importance of honoring our purpose and being faithful stewards of what He has placed in our hearts and hands.
Yes, as you would expect, I purchased and read the book! I found myself drawn into a deeper contemplation of the gifts God has placed in me, not just the obvious talents, but those quiet strengths shaped through years of experience, relationships, and service. The book stirred something within, reminding me that our calling isn’t about recognition, but obedience and not about outcomes, but faithfulness. Regardless of your age, I encourage you to read this book. Like for me, it may deepen your faithfulness and help you better understand the gifts God has entrusted in you and how to leverage them to build His kingdom.
As I continue to read, I’m learning that building His kingdom isn’t limited to grand gestures; sometimes it’s in the quiet act of encouragement, the shared wisdom in a conversation, or the choice to show up when it’s inconvenient. It’s clear, God has been preparing me for such moments, and now is the time to lean fully into those gifts with boldness and humility.
I’m asking God to help me understand the full tapestry of gifts He’s entrusted to me. Not simply the abilities or experiences, but the heart behind them. How can I take the wisdom of the years, the love I’ve received, the lessons I have learned and the blessings of my faith and family, and offer them back to Him in a way that builds His kingdom?
The answer might not come in lightning flashes or loud declarations, but I believe it will come, in Mass, in stillness, in service, in love.
We are all called by God to discover and share the gifts he has provided us and to use them to multiply our impact. Our calling is greater than our natural ability, and when we answer, we find our true purpose and how we can help build His kingdom with confidence.
Have you identified the gifts the good Lord has given you?
How have you used your gifts to multiply and build His kingdom?
