An Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God's Purpose for the Next Season of Life

by Jeff Haanen

What am I going to do with my retirement?

People talk about retirement like it's supposed to be an endless vacation. But what if, like the majority of those facing retirement, you can't afford such a luxury? Or, what if you just want something more from retirement? Some advocate for no retirement at all. But you've worked for decades and a rest and reprieve do sound appealing. What should you do? Does God have a purpose for your retirement?

Yes, He does. Learn how to discern what it is by taking an uncommon approach. Jeff Haanen looks biblically and practically at the need for rest and purpose in retirement. And teaches you how


Take a sabbatical rest in early retirement
Listen to God's voice for their calling in retirement
Rethink "work" in retirement
Understand family systems and leaving a legacy
Planning retirement doesn't have to be distressing. Retire in a way that's God-honoring, purpose-filled, restful, and truly biblical.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Faith

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2019

Reviews

[Bill Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been retired for a year, reading this book came at a good time for me. Actually, if I had read the book before I retired it would have been the perfect time. There is much wisdom in this book and I highly recommend it for believers who are retired or will soon be retired. I read the book in two days and plan to read it again and discuss it with a few friends who retired the same time as I did.
The author, the executive director of the Denver Institute, writes that there is a growing sense of uneasiness among Americans ages 50–70. Baby boomers, and even early Gen Xers, are asking new questions about life, work, calling, and purpose in retirement—questions that our society is largely unprepared to answer. This book will help with those questions. One of the biggest of those questions is “God, do You have a purpose for my retirement?”
The author states that finances are a major concern for most older Americans, with the number one financial concern among the recently retired is how to pay (or who will pay) for rising healthcare costs as they age.
He writes that the dominant paradigm of retirement today is about vacation—how to afford it, and then how to make the most of it. But this type of lifestyle leads to boredom at minimum, and sometimes to despair. Vacation as an ongoing lifestyle is often an attempt to escape from reality. Vacation isn’t the answer. Instead, the answer is to begin retirement with a stretch of deep Sabbath rest. A sabbatical is a way to structure time in early retirement to heal past wounds, seek God’s voice, and find God’s call for the next season of life. A sabbatical is the time to ask the honest question, “God, what are You calling me to do in retirement?” Listening to God’s voice is at the heart of discerning your calling. Retirement is the chance to pick up the strands of your calling that might have been latent during your career and develop them more fully into your life’s work.
The author tells us that a Christian perspective on retirement needs more than “never retire, keep working.” It needs a restoration of work, rest, and service that matures over a lifetime. For many, retirement offers a budding hope for work that better aligns with calling, yet is less subject to the deadline-driven pressure of their careers. Though work changes over a lifetime, he states that there’s nothing to suggest that work should completely cease at 62, 65, or 70. For Christians, work is fundamentally about contribution to others, not compensation; it’s an expression of our identity, but not the source of our identity; it’s about serving others, not personal success. However, working in retirement is filled with possible challenges that you should anticipate as you start planning your next season of life. Retirement is a season of possibility yet also of increased reminders of mortality. The author suggests that you decide what is important, and make a plan to do it, as the path toward effectiveness and impact. He tells us that studies find that those who write out their plan for retirement are far more satisfied than those who don’t.
The author states that learning in retirement can be preparation for a new job, career, or volunteer position that flows from a God-given calling. He discusses mentoring, indicating that today many are swapping a traditional idea of mentoring for the practice of intergenerational friendship. He adds that young people want to hear more about your mistakes than your successes.
He writes that reconnecting with family is a genuine joy of retirement. For many, serving kids, grandkids, and aging parents is central to a sense of vocation in this season of life.
The author writes that the church has been nearly silent on the topic of retirement, and then asks “What would it look like for the Christian church in America to transform our narrative about retirement?”
The “Afterword” is written by Chuck Bentley, CEO of Crown Financial Ministries. He writes that God is calling our generation to repurpose, not retire. He urges the reader to move away from thinking of retirement and to reframe this season of life as a time to repurpose.
The author includes helpful stories to illustrate his points throughout the book. He also contrasts “Common” vs. “Uncommon” approaches to retirement. An example is: “Common: Fear, doubt, and uncertainty in retirement” vs. “Uncommon: Retirement has hope because the Christian story is true”.
One suggestion for future editions would be to include “Questions for Discussion and Reflection” at the end of each chapter. That would aid in reading and discussing the book with others. (Note: A Discussion Guide is available for free download from a site that is listed in the book).
As I read the book, I highlighted a number of passages. Below are 10 of my favorite quotes:
1. To be like God—and to become fully human—we need both work and rest in proper proportion.
2. Work was created to be an expression of our identity, not the source of our identity.
3. Discerning your calling is to move outward toward the majesty of God and a lifetime of service to Him.
4. Work is inherently good and a way we reflect the image of God.
5. Work is an expression of love because it’s the principal way we serve the needs of our neighbors.
6. Work is the primary avenue for fulfilling Christ’s command to love your neighbor as yourself.
7. Reconnecting with family is a genuine joy of retirement.
8. Caring for the spiritual nourishment of the next generation is a way to think about a deep vocation in retirement.
9. Retirement is a chance to pause and ask deeper questions about the next season of life.
10. The biblical sense of hope is complete trust in God, for this life, for eternal life, and for the “life of the world to come.”

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still fresh in my early 30s, I’m not this book’s target audience. Yet, I found it refreshingly clear and helpful, even recalibrating for someone at the beginning end of a career.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, by far, the best book I've read on retirement. As it says on the tin, it's an uncommon view of retirement. The common view is that retirement is a long vacation. But the author counters this, and (personally for me anyway) provides some reassuring, biblical sanity. I retire in just three weeks time, following 34 years full-time pastoral ministry, and having worked every holiday from the age of 16, even during student years. Quite frankly, I've been dreading retirement, feeling completely disoriented. Yes, we know (and some of us preach this) that our identity is not tied to our work. And yet, not working carries an inherent sense of guilt.
So what is so helpful about this book? The author provides the health-giving biblical reminder that the sabbath principle of work & rest, is a creation mandate. This really IS part of our identity. For me, this has been something of a game-changer. So the question then is not "Should I work in retirement?" It's more about what that looks like in retirement. We are subject to aging, in a fallen creation, and we accept this. We face growing limitations physically, and maybe mentally. But even so, the sabbath principle remains.
For about eleven years earlier in my ministry, I taught the biblical doctrine of man as part of the systematic theology course, in a missionary training college. So how I managed to neglect the sabbath principle in thinking through retirement, is bizarre.
Anyway, this book is full of such helpful chapters for prospective retirees, or even for Rookie retirees. I've read a few books, articles etc, on retirement. But none of them are as helpful as this. Thankfully, because it is biblically focused, although American, it avoids some of the obvious cultural clashes that arise for us Brits reading American-penned books on retirement. Another American, Christian, book I recently read on retirement, suggests we need to think through questions like "Do I want to retire to a Condo on a retirement village with sailing, golf, on-site health-care etc?" Well, mercifully that's not a question I need to ponder in Swindon or Swansea. Quite a few friends in ministry will be splitting their sides laughing over that one. The choices we face are rather more basic.
But here in this book, there is real help and guidance. Warmly recommended.

[Dan Wolgemuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really solid look at a repurposed retirement. Really enjoyed Jeff’s very practical guide. Solid from start to finish.

[Bob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me much to think about as I am about to enter this third phase of my life, which most call retirement. I appreciated the more biblical view toward retirement, work, and God's calling than I've run across elsewhere. The few retirement books I've read mention the importance of having a purpose after leaving your career, some talk about the need or importance of doing some kind of work after "retirement;" mostly they talk about how to invest making your money last through retirement. This book takes God's view of this latter phase of life and encourages us to look for His purpose, His calling, during the latter years.
One of the suggestions that resonated well with me is to take a Sabbatical - three months to a year - after leaving full-time employment - to seek out God's leading.
Another idea that gave me serious pause to think is: "Work was created to be an expression of our identity, not the source of our identity."
As I said, much to think, and pray, about.
I highly recommend this book to anyone in retirement, or starting to think about retirement.

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do we do when we retire? For some, it is an extended vacation but the problem is affordability. Some go to other extreme by claiming they don't have enough money, and prefer to save up for the proverbial rainy day. Some Christians believe that the idea of an endless vacation is not biblical. Still others think that they need a bigger vision and purpose for retirement. Each of these options have their pros and cons. In this book, author Jeff Haanen challenges the typical views about what to do after retirement and argues that believers ought to resist fear, doubt, and uncertainty with a better sense of relationship and trust in God. He calls his counter-cultural views as "uncommon views." Many common topics are discussed. He looks at culture first, looking at the reasons why retirement is increasingly being talked about. He asks new questions of his own about work, finances, rest, family, calling, and purpose. He observes our shifting cultural climate that will have a greater proportion of aging Baby Boomers; increasing financial struggle; limited and uncertain pension plans; rising health care costs; and continued fear of the future. Haanen deals with each of these relevant matters thoughtfully with a gentle touch of realism. One Christian belief concerning retirement is to keep working. He counters that with the need to maintain a balance of work, rest, and service over the lifetime. This calls for a restoration of the Sabbath routine into our lives. Instead of rushing into a vacation after retirement, consider becoming more like God in both work and rest. Let not work or endless vacation define our identity. Treat recreation not as leisure or vacation but as an opportunity to participate in the creative work of God. On calling, the author gives us six powerful questions on discernment. We are reminded that work for us is not just about making ends meet but to reflect the image of God. Instead of seeing retirement as a preparation for the end of life, see it as a way to cultivate and enable a new season of life to blossom. Our ailments as we age should not be suffocated by fear and despair. Instead, let the vision of Christ fill us with hope of new vision of the future. On learning, we are encouraged to keep learning to become the person God has made us to be.

Haanen also gives us other counter-views about mentoring, family, work, and others in this thought-provoking and enlightening book. There are many things to like about this book. Let me offer three thoughts.

My Thoughts
==============
First, Haanen hits on a relevant topic for people of all ages. One does not need to be retiring or nearing retirement in order to learn from this book. Truth is, it is never too early to plan for retirement. Every day we live is a day closer to that phase. The questions about calling, work, time, health, family, etc are all relevant topics for all. The six questions to discern one's particular calling is already worth the price of the book. Many people also believe in the notion of retirement as some kind of a vacation-like venture. This needs to be corrected and the author hits the issue right on its head. Vocation is a more accurate word instead of vacation. Rather than to present solutions right off the head, readers might be surprised to see the starting point as Sabbath. This is so important. If we see retirement as a problem to be solved, we would easily jump to conclusions and often end up with answers that do not fully fit. When we take the necessary sabbatical moment, we will be more self-aware of our sense of identity, our purpose, and the adaptation to our next phase of life.

Second, the book presents ideas that are counter-cultural. The author does a good job consistently in comparing the conventional with the "uncommon" perspective. By stating the conventional, this ensures that readers are on the same page with him. This makes the reading effective and meaningful with many Aha! moments. The way the author places the "common vs uncommon" table comparisons also helps in reinforcing the thought for the chapter. He gives ample reasons why the conventional thinking needs to be revisited and revised. This is done through listing the myths surrounding typical and superficial perspectives. In doing so, we understand the reason why we ought to question the standard paradigm and to see the need for change. Like the way Jesus uses the sermon on the mount to counter the way the world thinks, Haanen uses his "uncommon" paradigm to teach us about retirement. Such a strategy is powerful and effective.

Finally, this book goes beyond merely retirement. It is essentially about changing our perspectives toward common topics that we have often assumed rather than questioned. Anyone could benefit from the wisdom sandwiched between the covers. We can learn about seeing time as something to be stewarded instead of merely being used. We need not dichomize faith from medical care. One can believe in God and still opt for medical procedures because both supernatural and the natural things of life are ordained by God. Learning too should not be limited to the young. We all need to cultivate the spirit of learning. Truly humble people, no matter how old they are, are always eager students of life.

Overall, I am happy to recommend this book for all people, especially those who struggle with the question: "What should I do when I retire?"

Jeff Haanen is founder and CEO of Denver Institute for Faith and Work. He writes for Christianity Today, Comment magazine, and other publications. He lives with his wife and four daughters in Denver, Colorado.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Moody Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Tim Wester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many good thoughts and reminders. Would recommend

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thoughtful and inspiring!

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title says it all. Jeff is good at challenging anyone to think more deeply about time off / retirement

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Biblical Contrast to the World’s View of Retirement

Being a lot closer to retirement age than Jeff Haanen, I would have assumed that I probably knew a lot more about retirement than he. I have been astonishingly proven wrong. Jeff gives readers of all ages a wise and insightful look into God’s purpose for the final third of earthly life. Contrasting the world’s view of retirement as a perpetual vacation filled with leisure and inane pursuits, Jeff gives a well-reasoned biblical point of view that shows that your retirement years can be a time of purpose, duty, and responsible relationships. The chapter on “Calling” by itself, is worth the price of the entire book. If you are close to retirement, or even if it is decades away, you will get great benefits from a careful read of An Uncommon Guide to Retirement.

[Mark Seeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positive, hopeful book as you begin to consider and plan for retirement. Read this a year out from when you anticipate pulling the trigger. Haanen repeats and repeats that retirement is included in your vocation and calling -- that it is not, nor should, be a perpetual vacation. After reading this, I am more aware of what my priorities are. It is a new season in life to serve others but perhaps down different avenues.

I appreciated his realism, especially on the chapter regarding mentoring; that it should occasion and develop more organically in the sphere of your relationships. Mentoring isn't something forced. Retirement planning is much more than financial. Hannen acknowledges that retirement comes with a lot of uncertainty; that you need to cultivate wisdom to embrace what you don't know and can't predict.

[Peter Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a better job than any I've read at applying the Gospel to the subject of retirement. It is worth reading, regardless of whether retirement is upon you, in the rear view mirror, or a long way off, simply because it asks the reader to consider how the call of Christ affects the way a person decides to spend his or her time and energies, in any season of life. Well researched and deeply Biblical, it contains some excellent suggestions for thought and prayer about what decisions to make about a person's post-retirement life (which, as the author points out, is actuarily likely to be longer than we might think). It also avoids the standard extremes of entertaining one's self 24/7, or adopting a hair-shirt approach that forbids a person from ever stopping work. I found the book very helpful as I embark on this next phase of life.

[Doug Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pre-ordered this book after reeding Jeff Haanen's article in Christianity Today about retirement. Retirement is still a few years away for me, but I'm getting closer. I appreciated his view that lies between the typical "long vacation" view of retirement and the view often shared in Christian circles that one should never retire. This middle road recognizes that we will slow down and that our income will decrease as we enter into later years, but also that a 20 to 30 year vacation can be empty of meaning. There are ways to contribute differently to society and God's Kingdom, and this book explores those ideas. It's probably good to start thinking about these things well ahead of the traditional retirement age.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for my sister who is retiring. I did a quick read so not sure my review is appropriate. I had to "project" as I was reading it, hoping to discern how helpful this might be for someone in her situation. There were a number of examples of various people who came to retirement in different ways and with different focuses. I hope she likes it. I had read an advertising for another book a few months back, written by a woman, and for the life of me I can't remember the name of the book. It sounded more appealing to me.

[Loretta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, however, I found it repetitive in many places and not as enlightening as I had hoped. I did find some very interesting thoughts/suggestions to reflect on. I also enjoyed the "Common vs Uncommon" perspectives at the end of each chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and relevant, this book is helpful for those who are considering the next chapter in their lives - post traditional full-time employment. Written for a target audience of the over-50 crowd, i think this book has relevance & application for those much younger, as planning for retirement and considering a new pathway can take more than a year or two.

[Gloria Serrao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for preparing for retirement; a retirement that glorifies God and uses our gifts to bless other generations and our families.

At first, planning a sabbatical, period of rest and reflection, seemed scary as I wanted to jump right into other activities. As I read, I saw the wisdom in this approach as well as how it could allow God to shape our time as we age.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I retired in April and one of my life mentors recommended this to me. If you have a Christian worldview, I cannot recommend this highly enough. I wish I had read it 5 years ago when I first began considering retiring. Very practical - it will have a big influence on how I approach this next season of life.

[Robin Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I retired in 2022 and promptly went to work part time two months later. Very practical advice for the retiree and good to have it reiterated that this stage of life does have a purpose and it's not just one long vacation. This took me a while to read as I read one chapter at a time to allow time for the thoughts to digest and I'm also at a not-reading-a-lot-right-now phase.

[Tim Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to help you find what your retirement will be. While most people think of retirement as an endless vacation, God’s plans involve us to continue doing His work as long as we are able. It involves writing down plans, knowing your skills and talents, and using them in the way God wants us to when we finish working at our jobs and head into our golden years. Highly recommend for those wondering what they are going to do in their later years in life.

[Steve Wegman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provides some good organized thinking about how to make good use of retirement, from a Christian perspective. Nothing wrong with it, but like most self-help books I've read it's more just a reminder to do things I already know than it is a source of new information.

[Kerry Oren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great challenge to look at retirement counterculturally, no matter what your financial situation is.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So refreshing. So needed.

[Mary Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that I am going to keep going back to in the next few months as I prepare for retirement.

[Laurene Klassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

All about the biblical view of retirement and using your last season to serve and give back. We need more on this subject. Absolutely love this read - filled with a lot of gold nuggets.

[Roger Tessendorf · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gave a lot of interesting information, but did not meet my hope in finding out my personal purpose in retirement.

[Jane S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some good nuggets in here, especially as Haanen explores Sabbath and Christian counter-cultural views of retirement. But so much of the prose is focused on quick stories and quotes and lists, and Haanen rarely gives ideas room to breath, instead racing to another concept or question, so much so that those concepts and questions often get repetitive.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the premise of the book- a little harsh in spots but good to continue to serve others

[Dave Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought Provoking