Tag: aging

The Fourth Quarter of Life

Join me and Ric Shields’ DoorWays Ministry podcast series, focusing on retirement and its purpose beyond mere rest. In the first episode, Mike Bayer, a seasoned pastor, challenges conventional views on retirement, promoting it as a new phase of life filled with opportunities for purpose and contribution.

My friend Ric Shields invited me to be a guest on his DoorWays Ministry podcast series to talk about the questions that really matter when it comes to retirement.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “retirement”? The word comes from the verb retire, which means “to go to sleep”. But most of us don’t plan to spend our retirement sleeping all day.

Most people think of retirement in terms of work. The dictionary definition is “to withdraw from one’s position or occupation; to conclude one’s working or professional career.”

Whether retirement is still years away, you’re getting ready for it, or you’re already a seasoned retiree, this series has something for you. We’ll explore how to plan, prepare, and thrive in whatever season of life you’re in now.

You can access all the episodes at this link, and I will post them here on the blog and on Facebook. I hope you will share them widely.

Episode 1

What Shall I Do? Finding Purpose Beyond Retirement

What if retirement isn’t the end of your working life, but the beginning of a new way to live out who God has made you to be?

Mike Bayer has spent more than three decades pastoring in a retirement community, and at 82, he’s still going. In this conversation, Mike challenges the idea that retirement means stepping away from purpose. He calls it the “fourth quarter of life” and encourages us to see those years not as a reduction of life, but an expansion of it.

Mike Bayer is the longtime pastor of The Village Church in Laguna Woods, California, where he has ministered primarily to senior adults for more than three decades. A former Marine, seminary graduate, pastor, entrepreneur, and longtime content creator, Mike continues to encourage people in what he calls the “fourth quarter of life.” His message is simple: “If you ain’t dead, you ain’t done.”



With decades of experience behind us, we have something valuable to offer: perspective, wisdom, lived experience, encouragement, service, and faith. Whether retirement is years away, just beginning, or already part of your story, Mike’s message is simple: if you’re still here, there’s still something to do.

Quote about retirement emphasizing that it doesn't change a person's identity, encouraging new ways to express purpose.

Exploring the HEART of Health

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha