“If we don’t retire from purpose, what exactly are we called into?”
The world has sold us a shallow vision of retirement: one that exchanges purpose for passivity, calling for comfort, meaning for maintenance. But the soul longs for more. We were made in the image of a Creator—not to coast, but to contribute. Not to shrink, but to serve. And while the paycheck may stop, the calling never retires.
One of the most sobering examples of this truth is personal.
A Tribute to David Dussault
My brother-in-law, David Dussault, was a gifted welder—meticulous, capable, and humble. For years he worked with his hands, crafting not just reliable structures but beautiful welded artwork. His garage was more than a workspace—it was a studio of quiet excellence. He didn’t advertise his pieces. He simply made them. And those who saw them were blessed by the creativity behind the steel.
But after retirement, all of it stopped.
The torch went cold. The projects halted. And over time, so did the spark within him. He gradually withdrew from civic and religious life, no longer involved in the kinds of activities that once gave rhythm and meaning to his weeks. The creativity that once flowed from his hands became still.
David passed away at 70—just five years after leaving the workforce.
I do not claim a medical link. But I do believe there was a spiritual one. David, like so many others, was not lacking in skill. He was not lacking in opportunity. What he lacked was purpose—a reason to keep creating, engaging, and giving of himself. His passing left behind more than grief. It left a question:
How many of us are slowly dying—not from disease, but from disengagement?
The Science Backs It Up
This isn’t just personal. It’s measurable. The medical and psychological research is piling up, and it confirms what Scripture has always taught: human beings need purpose like we need oxygen.
A 2019 study published in JAMA Network Open found that adults with a high sense of life purpose were significantly less likely to die over a four-year period than those who felt aimless. Researchers adjusted for economic status, chronic illness, and lifestyle choices. Still, purpose stood out.
Harvard researchers echoed the same: those with purpose had better sleep, fewer strokes, stronger grip strength, and even healthier relationships. Other studies have shown that purpose is linked to lower rates of Alzheimer’s, improved immune function, and greater resiliency during medical recovery.
And the common thread? None of these benefits come from passivity. They come from engagement—mental, emotional, spiritual, and communal.
Put simply: if you want to live longer and live better, don’t just protect your health. Protect your purpose.
Purpose Is Not Performance
Now let’s clarify something: purpose does not mean pressure. You don’t have to launch a nonprofit, write a book, or build a second career to have purpose.
Phased Retirement
Many of you know of other CPA’s and Financial Advisors who decided not to disconnect, but to slow down! I often tell CPA’s keep the clients / friends you really like, the one’s you’ve gotten to know really well over the years and those that your not really fond of fire them or give them to a young associate. Life is too short and your time is too valuable to work with anyone who makes your job a job!
Find a Niche – Heck, I made up a position 10+ years ago doing Social Security Consulting. If I can do it, you most certainly can!!!
Sometimes it’s as simple as:
- Calling a lonely neighbor every Tuesday
- Mentoring a young man from your church
- Volunteering at the food bank
- Writing letters to your grandchildren
- Keeping the coffee warm for your spouse
- Getting actively involved in your comm
Purpose isn’t about applause. It’s about alignment. Aligning your time, energy, and presence with what God has uniquely put in you to offer.
You don’t need to be busier. But you do need to stay available. Because the danger isn’t always in doing something wrong. Sometimes the greater tragedy is doing nothing at all.
Sins of Omission
For years, I’ve taught that there are two kinds of sin: sins of commission—the things we do that we shouldn’t—and sins of omission—the things we should do but don’t.
As I get older, I fear the second far more than the first.
Why? Because omission is silent. It doesn’t disturb the peace or draw attention. It just slowly robs the world of your contribution. It leaves prayers unprayed, lessons untaught, love unspoken, and gifts unused.
Omission haunts. Especially when you know God put something in you for a reason—and you buried it, thinking your time had passed.
But it hasn’t. You woke up today.
And as the general in our men’s group prays each week: “Lord, thank you for another day not promised.”
That’s not just gratitude. It’s marching orders.
Retirement Is a Reassignment
If you’ve ever been in the military, you understand reassignment orders. They don’t mean the mission is over. It just means the assignment is changing.
Retirement isn’t your exit. It’s your reassignment.
This stage of life—what I call the “Back 9”—comes with margin, wisdom, and options. You’ve gained decades of knowledge. You have a wider lens. Fewer people demand your time. That’s not the end of your story. That’s your advantage.
The question isn’t “What do I want to do with my time?”
The better question is:
“What does God want to do with the time I have left?”
If you still have breath in your lungs, you’re still on assignment.
There Are No Mulligans
I’ve played enough rounds of golf to know the comfort of a mulligan—that unspoken agreement to redo a bad shot without penalty. It’s grace. But life doesn’t work that way.
There are no mulligans in life but each day is a new day (New Choices)
You don’t get to redo your retirement years. You don’t get to reclaim the time you spent numbing yourself with television, isolation, or distractions. And you certainly don’t get to retrieve the missed chances to bless others with the gifts you were given.
But the good news is—you don’t need a mulligan. You just need to start today. Right where you are. With what you have left.
Accept the fact that you are where you are today, because of the decisions you’ve made in the course of your life! I can’t change yesterday, I can’t undue what I’ve done or said, but I can decide that today is a new day and I get to choose how I treat this most valuable moment.
As I told a friend who retired last month take 6 months – even a year to examine and explore new opportunities or interests long since put on hold. Take time to Discern what you want to do and try it! The worst that can happen is that you’ve learned what you don’t want to do and then try something else. The beauty of retirement is that hopefully your OK from a financial standpoint, so you can take on new challenges and opportunities without worrying about the bills!
The Final Challenge
So here’s the final challenge:
Look at your calendar. Look at your gifts. Look at your story.
Ask yourself:
- Who could benefit from my presence this week?
- What small step of obedience have I been delaying?
- Where can I show up—not as a has-been, but as a steward?
And remember this: You’re not retired. You’re redeployed.
David P. Zander
CFP Emeritus Board ™
dzander@back9pro.com
260-615-0078
