I retired two years ago today. I am hearing more frequently that it appears to agree with me, or "You're looking happy!"

Sunday afternoon as I was waiting for our kids to come home from their vacation, I was going through my photos in Lightroom and adding keywords to those that had none: it makes a picture easier to find if one has some identifying words associated with the image. And I noticed some photos of me from the fall of 2005. I should have looked well, as I had just completed a summer Sabbath. But I had returned to my work only to have to deal with the misbehavior of a pastor and an angry congregation. I looked weary, old, overweight, did I say tired. I was good at what I did, but it had begun to wear on me after four years. It was a difficult time, but I had a Bishop and cabinet colleagues that were supportive in every way. I rarely have experienced Christian community like I did when I served on the Cabinet.

Today, I weigh less, much less. I am happier. I enjoy my family, my new church, my life of leisure. When I compare photos, I wonder who that guy was in those old pictures?