By Harold Keller / L’Observateur / June 2, 1999

I have often thought about writing an article about retirement. The reasonbeing is that the two questions I’m asked most often are: What do you do? (and) Are you retired? My answer to the retirement question is: “I can’t retire. I’ve neverworked.” I’ve heard it said that if you enjoy what you do, it’s not work.Work is described as labor. I’ve been blessed because I enjoy what I do andam excited about it and, therefore, do not consider it labor.

My motivation to write about retirement this week was the retirement celebration this past weekend of two very good friends, Major and LaRue Speights. Brother Speights is retiring as pastor of the First BaptistChurch in LaPlace, where he has served since 1971. His wife, LaRue, isretiring from the St. John Parish School System where she taught English.Sunday was Brother Speights’ final day as pastor of the church and also the day he delivered his last sermon. I attended the service and waitedwith anticipation, like many others in attendance, to hear his last message. He started by saying he wanted it to be his best and added thathe had never read a sermon, but this day, for the first time, he would.

He chose to read from the Bible – Matthew, Chapters 5, 6 and 7, which is “the Sermon on the Mount,” by Jesus. As he read, with enthusiasm andemotion, he asked us to picture ourselves as one of the multitude, listening to Jesus.

It started with the eight Beatitudes – blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake.

The sermon also reminded Christians that they are the salt of the earth – the light of the world. It covered the Christian responsibility concerninganger, restitution, adultery, civil suits, divorce, making vows, retaliation, love, alms-giving, praying (including the Lord’s Prayer), fasting, trusting in riches, double-mindedness, worry and anxiety, judging others, unbelief, selfishness, wrong choices, false prophets, insecurity, and mere profession of faith. It warns that not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord!”will enter the kingdom of heaven.

As Brother Speights concluded, I thought, “What a message!” He was right! He saved the best for last! For those of you who missed church Sunday, or didn’t enjoy the sermon at your church, do yourself a favor. Read Brother Speights’ last sermon foundin Matt. 5-7. I’ve read that sermon many times, but Sunday it ministeredto much more than at any other time.

Sunday was special for the Speights, but Brother Speights made it special for all in attendance. To think he had to borrow his last sermon. Thanks,Jesus, for writing it for Brother Speights, and thanks, Brother Speights, for being used as a vessel to deliver the greatest sermon of all.

Getting back to the words, retire or retirement. According to theWebster’s dictionary, retire means to withdraw from action, to retreat, to withdraw for the sake of privacy or seclusion.

Major and LaRue, I hope that you haven’t retired, but only closed a chapter in your books of life. I pray that the best is yet to come. Thanks for yourservice to the people of St. John Parish. We love you!

Harold Keller is a regular columnist for L’Observateur

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