Free to Live

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

"I am Free!"

I woke up on May 1st with the News Boys song in my head. "I am free, yes I am free." That marked my first day as a retiree. No more clocking in and out. No more scheduled work, deadlines to make or staff meetings. Thanks to the support of my husband, I no longer need to work outside of our home. On my last day of work, several co-workers dropped by and bid me farewell. Many of them asked me what my plans were after I retired. But one of them posed a different question. He asked, "What is your favorite memory you'll take with you?" I had to ponder that one. With 24 years of library work, what did I think? A few hours later one of our former student assistants, Ty, dropped by to tell me good-bye. I had a Charlie Brown moment when in my head, I yelled, "That's it!"

My favorite memory stemmed from the students, Ty and Ben. I had both young men in elementary school, before I worked at the college. They both came to Clermont as college freshman and worked in the library as students. I had the privilege of seeing these two follow their dreams, along with several of my friends' children.

I loved working with students. But God knew I was ready for a change. As free as I feel about retirement, I am truly free in Jesus because he took my sins with him to the cross. When Jesus beat death, the shackles of sin fell from me because I chose to follow Him. Now without a daily job to go to, I have opportunity to explore my future. Through prayer and scripture, I'm seeking what God wants me to do for the rest of my life. I know my path includes encouragement, writing and art. With the Holy Spirit's guidance and a servant's heart, I want to glorify Jesus in whatever I do. Because the Spirit of the Lord is with me, I am free indeed.