In late October 2024, as dawn broke through dark skies on my daily morning walk, I listened to the night sounds turning into day. I was walking the familiar path with a mixture of nostalgia, fear, and anticipation. 

For over 44 years, I had served in a variety of roles with a common focus: the church, the body of Christ. As a staff member or a strategic outsider, my goal had always been as a guiding light for the organization. Independent, logical, and determined, I am known for my relentless pursuit of learning through exploration, researching, and by asking searching questions.  Outwardly quiet, reserved, and detached, inwardly I am constantly absorbed in analyzing problems or situations. Work, for me, is the process of striving towards something that matters deeply to me and is consistent with my values. It was more than just a job.

Yet here I was on the morning after the fateful call in which I had been informed that my job was being eliminated in four months’ time, at the end of February. 

On that morning, the walk was more habit than conscious decision, but not for long.

As I walked with the shock still fresh, my mind turned to the skies at the sound of a plane overhead. With the wind blowing in my face, airplanes approaching Charlotte Douglas airport were landing from the north. That meant flight after flight was lining up like a set of twinkling cafe lights from the south, flying directly overhead, and then turning to the west before one more turn to make their final approach.

In a flash, I knew that the term final approach was a perfect metaphor for what I was facing. Long enamored of airplanes and flight, and with a father who served in WWII in the Army Air Corps and a son currently a captain in the Air Force, the phrase was perfect for the situation I was facing.

The news of my job elimination had come like turbulence on a clear day, unexpected yet undeniable. While my colleagues and friends may have thought “retirement,” I felt  down to my core that I hadn’t yet reached my “final destination” (to use another flight metaphor). There was still a journey ahead – uncharted skies and yet-to-be-discovered places. And I intended to approach this moment as I had every challenge in my career: with conviction, gratitude, and the desire to finish well.

During the four months left, I set out to use each day purposefully. Reframing this period, I chose to see this as a final approach of my current job before moving into new territory with another destination in the future, rather than an ending. 

As I spent my days on the various parts of my job at hand, each task took on a new meaning as I did my daily tasks but also prepared to share not only insights about the technical aspects but also wisdom gleaned from my years in the role. Each call, every report or spreadsheet prepared, and even casual conversations in digital spaces became opportunities to create the equivalent of a pilot’s “flight bag” – aeronautical and navigation charts, route manuals, and flight checklists. Necessary for ongoing “flights,” my intention was that all the activity over the next four months would provide direction and guidance for the team, allowing them to flourish after I was gone.

My evenings and weekends became devoted to planning the next part of my adventure. I am charting out ideas that have simmered in the back of my mind for years: more writing, maybe, or mentoring/coaching opportunities where I could invest in people beyond my field. I’m even envisioning a “modern elder” initiative – a place where seasoned professionals can support rising generations, sharing both practical skills and timeless principles. 

To me, this isn’t about staying relevant or proving something; it was about answering a call I have long felt deep within, one that echoed louder than any retirement clock ticking in my ear.

Anita, always my closest source of inspiration and encouragement, has stepped up big time. Her own personal journey and recent medical battles over the past three years have provided immense support and a calm sense of peace in stormy weather.

Many more conversations followed, and continue, with my children, friends, and other individuals being sought out to provide a sound word of counsel.

After two months of the above, some unforeseen medical issues brought unexpected “interruptions” into my plans. With just enough energy to fulfill my daily role, I set aside looking to the future for a time.

As I closed out each night, I felt a growing sense of peace. I embraced this final approach with the steady focus of a seasoned pilot bringing in a plane through the night – aware of the passengers and cargo, mindful of all the external factors affecting the final approach, but confident in the landing and the subsequent journey ahead. 

My final destination? This period isn’t an exit but an opening, a new horizon where my years of experience have become a compass guiding me toward purpose and fulfillment beyond what I could have dreamed about before.

When the time comes to step away and power down my laptop for the final time in a few hours, I won’t look back with regret. Instead, I am moving toward the future with a smile, heart full of hope for the landing yet to come. 

My journey is far from over; in fact, it has just begun.

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