What Now? Retire? Surprise!

After a few months of retirement, my wife Cheryl and I were wondering what God had in store for us.  In addition to my own research and teaching, we had been very active in UGA’s Faculty Commons ministry and intentional in reaching out to students regarding the relationship between Christianity and science.  We wanted to help them understand that Christianity and science are friends, not foes. 

Now, after retiring, that part of our life was over…or so it seemed. 

So, we asked God: “What now”? 

We didn’t have to wait long for His answer!  

Almost immediately we were asked if I could give a talk on “Christianity and Science” to a group of international scholars, most of whom were faculty members from Chinese universities.  

Initially, I really didn’t feel like doing this, but Cheryl and I decided that perhaps this was God leading us so we agreed. That talk has led us to be very involved with international scholars and their families at UGA for the past three years. Our small church started a missional community group to reach out to these scholars that meets in our home each Friday evening for dinner and a Bible lesson, and we often teach a Bible lesson to them at a larger church on Sunday morning. We consider ourselves helpers in this effort with our church and with several dedicated friends who work full-time at UGA with these international scholars.  

So, what has happened during this time?:

• We discovered that these Chinese scholars are very open to hearing about Christianity; many for cultural reasons, but quite a few have been seekers.  
• We have seen eight of these scholars make decisions for Christ; two cell biologists, a quantum chemist, one in marketing, two computer scientists, and several from other disciplines.
• We have seen still others learn a great deal about Christ and gain a real understanding of the gospel, and a respect for Christianity.
• We have made so many wonderful new friends. We are known as Professor Carlson and Cheryl to some, and Grandpa and Grandma to others!
• We have celebrated several baptisms; this is a big decision for a Chinese visiting scholar.
• We have made a wonderful trip to China visiting friends we made here in Athens.  In China, I was asked to give a research talk at a university in Wuhan where my host, knowing I was a Christian, asked the audience afterward “What does God have to do with this?”  I was totally surprised by this.  It certainly had never happened to me anywhere else.
• We have been asked for help by several visiting scholars experiencing problems; traffic tickets, accidents and being sued, a young couple experiencing a miscarriage, and another young couple with a domestic dispute.  Our initial reaction to these problems was: How can we help? What can we do? We prayed with them.  We discovered that their problem was simply an opportunity for God!  He answered every prayer and they experienced His answers.  It was very meaningful to them, and to us!

Well, I’m off now to help a scholar move some furniture with my trailer. My retirement has offered another opportunity to meet new and wonderful people and receive a blessing!  

We all have had, or will have, those “What now?” times in our lives. 

Ask God.  Cheryl and I have found that God will answer that prayer and it will be a blessing.