Looking Ahead and Looking Back “just a little”
Terry H. Cunningham
Presbytery of West Virginia
I have been blessed with nineteen years + working with and for the Presbytery. My work has mostly been done with older adults. Once in a while some younger folks would slip in with needs I was able to assist them with.
It has been a wonderful opportunity to use my talents as I believe God has intended. I have always felt that if you are blessed with talents you should share them with others, otherwise they are simply wasted. The wonderful opportunity to travel the state of West Virginia has been mine for the last forty-three years.
West Virginia is my adopted state but I truly know it better than New Jersey where I grew up. I remember when I was in junior high school and our teacher insisted that we learn the counties in New Jersey. I thought to myself, while struggling to learn this is foolish, I’ll never need this bit of knowledge. True to my statement I never did need to know the counties in New Jersey but I certainly did need to know the fifty-five counties in West Virginia. And I must add it has been a pleasure.
The opportunity that I was given few West Virginians have had and that was to travel throughout West Virginia meeting people and getting to enjoy the friendliness and warmth West Virginians tend to offer even strangers. I don’t consider myself a stranger anymore, just someone who has been accepted by West Virginians as one of theirs.
It is in many ways sad to be leaving the Presbytery after all these years. I have enjoyed my work with the congregations of many denominations (you see the Presbytery allowed me to work with many denominations as long as I did my job within the Presbytery). It has been a pleasure working with the social service coordinators, managers, etc .of National Church Residences. The residents of those facilities that I had the pleasure of working with will also be missed. The staff of Presbytery is one in which Presbyterians should be very proud. Those who continue are diligent employees who recognize the needs of the congregations and work hard to meet those needs. Yes, I will be a little sad to be leaving.
Looking ahead, the excitement is to think of the many things I might get involved with including relaxation. For me relaxation includes having more time with my family, gardening, antiquing, decorating, etc. Of course there is also that little matter that has been put off which is hip replacement now scheduled in February of 2011.
Continuing with some of the things I am currently doing includes articles for the Shepherd Center newsletter. I also hope to continue my work with the Alzheimer’s support groups and a committee on financial abuse of older adults. After that the world is a wide open place to explore! I really like the AARP ad that relates to those about to retire and states “when I grow up I want to be…” maybe I’ll find out what that is.
I think for anyone who is about to retire it is important to keep an open mind and a positive attitude. This can and, I hope, will be the greatest chapter of my life.