How I Found My Purpose After Retirement

How I Found My Purpose After Retirement

For more than 35 years, I worked as a legal assistant/paralegal. I had a career I was proud of, raised my family, stayed busy, and like so many of us, spent years knowing exactly what I was supposed to do when I got up every morning.

And then I retired.

Retirement is supposed to be this wonderful time when you finally get to slow down, relax and enjoy life. And it was! But after a while, I realized something was missing.

I wasn’t finished.

I didn’t necessarily want another “job.” What I wanted was purpose.

I wanted to feel like I was still contributing, still helping people and still making a difference.

I just didn’t know what that was supposed to look like.

Then Came an Invitation

Sometimes God doesn’t show us the entire plan. Sometimes He simply puts the right person in our path.

A friend invited me to become involved with Christians In Business.

At the time, I had no idea how much that invitation would change my life.

I began learning more about the organization, meeting other Christian business owners and seeing something that really spoke to my heart: people trying to build successful businesses while also living out their faith.

These weren’t just businesses.

They were families trying to make a living. Entrepreneurs taking risks. People creating jobs. Business owners serving their communities. And people who genuinely wanted to do business with integrity, excellence and purpose.

The more involved I became, the more I felt God nudging me.

Maybe this was the purpose I had been looking for.

From Retirement to a Whole New Chapter

I prayed about it. I talked about it with my husband. And eventually, I decided to step through the door God had opened.

One step led to another.

What started as getting involved with Christians In Business grew into helping local businesses gain visibility, connecting business owners with one another and building a stronger Christian business community.

Eventually, my role grew far beyond what I could have imagined when I first said yes.

Today, I have the privilege of working with Christians In Business both locally and nationally, helping Christian business owners connect, grow and become more visible in their communities.

And somewhere along the way, I realized something important:

Business can be a ministry.

Ministry doesn’t always happen behind a pulpit.

Sometimes it happens when a business owner helps a family that is struggling.

Sometimes it’s when an employer gives someone a second chance.

Sometimes it’s referring a customer to another small business instead of keeping everything for yourself.

Sometimes it’s simply doing what you said you would do, treating people fairly and operating your business with integrity when no one is watching.

That’s the kind of business community I want to help build.

I Thought I Was Retiring

Looking back now, I smile.

I thought I was closing one chapter of my life.

God apparently had another one waiting.

And this one has brought me opportunities, friendships, challenges and a sense of purpose I never expected at this stage of my life.

If I’ve learned anything from this journey, it’s this:

You’re never too old to pivot. You’re never too old to discover a new purpose. And you’re never too old for God to say, “I’m not finished with you yet.”

Christians In Business has become much more than something I do.

It’s become part of my ministry.

And I can’t wait to see where God takes it next.

— Patti Sutherland Christians In Business Connecting Christian businesses with integrity, excellence and purpose.