You Can Only Golf So Much!
Steve Redmann approached retirement from his long working career with great anticipation. His nearly forty years as an Edward Jones financial advisor had been rewarding, even if at times exhausting. Steve served hundreds of clients and made many friends in and around Menomonie, Wisconsin.
His approach to his work was informed by his faith in Christ. He viewed every client and every interaction with others as an opportunity, and in his long career the Lord gave him many moments of spiritually-focused conversation with people, whether in his office or at the coffee shop.
However, as retirement neared, Steve felt ready for a break. The long hours on the job had taken a toll and Steve was tired, mentally, physically, emotionally―and yes, even spiritually. He was looking forward to more travel, connecting more closely with family―and rest… a lot of rest. He had always greatly enjoyed golfing, and it was finally time for more of that! But today, six years into retirement, Steve would say that he still hasn’t gotten much rest. And he’s arrived at this unexpected conclusion: “You can only golf so much!”
What does his retirement look like these days? It’s a new vocation, one in which Steve is finding new opportunities to serve the Lord by serving people. Steve was ordained as an elder of Living Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in 1996, and he continues this vocation within the church with a dedication and enthusiasm that is much appreciated by the congregation, whether it be through spiritual encouragement or lawn mowing.
Some of his present service has come in the ways Steve might have expected. For example, he entered retirement with community involvement that carried over from his working days, such as serving on the board of the Community Foundation, and finding ways to encourage and assist the local crisis pregnancy center, Options for Women.
Steve’s experience in finances very naturally prepared him to assist family and friends in financial matters, but he is now becoming more proficient dealing with legal matters and government agencies, something he had not done much of in the past. The skill of talking with people, refined over his many years with Edward Jones, now allows Steve to function as an advocate for friends who are bewildered with the maze of dealing with such bureaucracies. He has found himself stepping in to assist people who are struggling with new challenges in that realm, such as a widow in the congregation whose husband had always handled the finances. And even his pastor, who suddenly needed help navigating the maze of medical disability and retirement. Steve has been immeasurably helpful for those two, and for others.
Steve would honestly admit that his initial motivation wasn’t extremely spiritual or philanthropic, but as he engaged with people, he started to see that God could use this to open doors. And as this happens, it snowballs into more motivation! His desire to feel useful in retirement turned out to be God-honoring as he daily asks what needs to be done. He recognized that God doesn’t need our giving, but that it’s God’s provision for us, in how he’s built us, to benefit from giving―to derive joy!
Some aspects of his calling to serve have had nothing to do with his previous work experience, but Steve has found that one relationship leads to another. He was already acquainted with Harry, who has a painting business, but now Steve began to visit Harry on job sites, observing the work and learning a lot. Steve had the time, and the willingness, to take on a new skill, and the blessing was that it grew a friendship. The interest in the work led to more quality time with Harry away from the workplace, and over time has resulted in a very strong relationship with Harry and his whole family.
As a side benefit, Steve has become the go-to person for any and every painting project in the church facility, bringing the diligent approach learned from a professional painter. He gladly acknowledges that “everything I know about painting, I learned from Harry (plus maybe a few YouTube videos).”
Regarding this kind of work, and several other hands-on projects that Steve has become involved with both within and without the church, he reflects, “I’ve discovered that with YouTube, you can do things such as change the head gasket on your lawnmower engine, replace the windshield washer pump on your car, and fix your clothes dryer, to name a few!”
Besides painting, Steve occasionally spends a day filling fish oil bottles to help out another friend whom he met through Harry. Steve has learned that entering a new friend’s world has given him opportunities to visit and relate to people who don’t see the world exactly the same way he does―which is something very valuable. In fact, it’s a gift and a blessing from God. Steve would say he has been blessed by these new friends, and he trusts God is blessing them also in the process.
Is this new vocation always so rewarding? Steve admits it’s often like his past work life, in that “you don’t always want to do it on a given day, but you just do it.” Steve’s old friend Irv, now home with the Lord, used to joke, “The problem with retirement is you never get a day off.” But Steve is now OK with that view of retirement, because, as he has learned from experience, “You can only golf so much!”
Rev. Brent Juliot is Contributing Editor of Faith & Fellowship magazine and Pastor of Living Hope Church in Menomonie, Wisconsin.