Got My First Social Security Check

Hi, Folks,

It is official. I'm really retired. I received my first Social Security payment, so I must be retired, right? But why don't I feel like it? So many seniors citizens have told me that they are busier being retired than working at their former careers. I thought that it just seemed that way to them. But boy, was I wrong. They are right!

If this keeps up I just might go back to a full time job so I can get a break. My question is, "If you're retired, how do you know when you're on vacation?"

Many of you know I'm pastoring a church here in town at quarter time. That's defined as 15 hours a week. Heck, it takes me that long just to write a sermon. What I have found out is that quarter time really means full time but for a quarter of the pay.

But that's okay. I like doing ministry and never really kept account of the hours I put in and my salary wasn'tmy first concern. I couldn't think of doing anything else with my life. For the first half of my ministry I never took a day off as we are supposed to do and my work day began at 5:30 a.m. Nowadays, I start at 8:30, but sometimes I sneak a breakfast in at a diner and don't get in until 9:00 or 9:30. (I feel like I've done something wrong, so I dock myself one cup of coffee at the office.)

I'm looking into doing some substitute teaching. I'm just waiting for my background check to come back. I've been finger printed so many times it's getting harder and harded to get the darn ink off of my fingertips. But now it's computerized. You just roll your fingers and thumbs across a plate of glass on a computer.

I want to reach out to High School and Jr. High kids in the community. I can't discuss religion, but maybe by being a compassionate presence it may lead some of the youth to ask questions which I can answer. I had great experiences doing so in Russia in the schools there in 1994 and 1995. I could do there what I cannot do here in America and that was to share the Gospel with kids in school.

If I, as a substitute, even mention God (God forbid) they would toss me out on my ear. So, I am asking if you would be so kind as to pray for me so that in my substitute assignments that God may use me in someway to help young people.
I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a lot and God bless.

Rich