Recently, I came across (once again) Watchman Nee's book, Sit, Walk, Stand -- a book that I first encountered while in college.  A short Google search alerted me that several subsequent authors have used similar titles to explore the wonders of the New Testament book of Ephesians.

Nee's thesis is that the life with Christ can be charted in three somewhat overlapping phases: Sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning, Walking with the master, serving others and sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God, and standing firm in society for what you have come to believe through the process of the first two phases.  Retirement tempts us to redouble our efforts in the first two, taking time away from developing in the third.

As with the prophets of old, people around us don't always like the stands we take.  In fact, if you want to be popular, don't take a stand on anything.  But "standing" for the values of the Kingdom of God is exactly what some of us "retirees" are asked to do.

Is it easy?  No. Does is make you popular?  Not necessarily.  Is it fun?  No.  Is it our task as retirees who have put in our days "sitting" at Jesus' feet and "walking" with Christ through his kingdom on earth?  It may well be.