Who’d think that someone in their seventies would embark on a new challenge? Our current president, for example, has taken a round about turn in his career to see what he can do to make America great again.  Michelangelo, the artist, became Michelangelo the architect in his 70s and was commissioned to design St. Peter’s Basilica.  There are many who wait until their later years to shine and actually find their true calling in life.

Last summer, my husband and I took a giant leap of faith.  We’d lived in the same house for 24 years and it had become a drain on us financially – causing both of us to continue to work  We drastically downsized everything.  Things that we never thought we’d part with, became fodder for the thrift stores and junkyard.  All outside work came to a stop by the beginning of fall.  Careers that had been built out of love and hard work were set aside so that we could focus on a modest lifestyle with less expenses and thus more time together.

At the time, the whole process terrified me.  Retirement was never going to be an option.  I love what I do.  In an instant it was all gone and I was left with a feeling of emptiness and fear.  With the constant encouragement of my spouse, I soon learned that we could actually survive just on our social security.

Then came the expenses of buying an old house.  New wiring, new plumbing, new storage space, fencing for the dog, and tons of little things that ate away at our little nest egg, soon made us realize that employment of some kind was still necessary.

God knows what He’s doing with us.  It’s taken me a long time, but I’m finally beginning to get it.  We now live in a small community that loves the arts.  We spoke with some folks yesterday about a newly formed art center and will be getting involved there – teaching classes and helping in other ways.  We are slowly finding out what this town has to offer and how we can use our talents here, and maybe even make a few extra bucks without killing ourselves.

The point of this post is that we shouldn’t be afraid to take a chance – even when you’re way beyond big decision making years.  Remember that God is in charge of your life.  He’s mapped it out from beginning to end.  Sometimes the hardest door we have to open is our own, before we discover what lies beyond.  Putting our faith in Him has never disappointed us.  Being in our seventies isn’t the end of things. It’s just the beginning of a new adventure.