“Well, that’s a wrap” are words we say when we’ve finished something significant. 

I recently put these words up on the sign board in our home. 

But the truth of the matter is that when you wrap something up, you’re not really done. Something else has to take its place. 

When a film director says, “that’s a wrap”, he’s just referring to the filming of the project. There is still the whole editing work that must be done.

Even when you finish wrapping your presents for Christmas, there is still Christmas morning when people are going to unwrap all the wrapping you did the night before. 

… I’m speaking from personal experience, but your story might be a little different.

The reason why I put the words, “That’s a Wrap”, on my sign board is because I’ve just retired. The end of a 37-year career has been wrapped up and it is complete.

The reality of this hit me, more than anything, when I had finished packing up all my books, cleaning out all my files and finally taking down all my pictures and memorabilia from my office walls. 

I turned off the lights in the office, looked back inside for a moment and paused. 

The room was empty; there was nothing personal left in there. It was now just a generic office space, dark, lifeless, devoid of personality.

Can an office have life and personality? Well, it can if you put your own life and personality on its bookshelves and walls.

It was a sad moment realizing that over 26 1/2 years, I’d spent a lot of time there. 

It was all over now – “a wrap”.

But like with anything that gets wrapped up, there is something after it. There is something new or different, something that will take its place.

“That’s a wrap” just leads to what comes next.

For me what comes next will unfold over time. But what first needs to happen is to establish a new routine. 

I’ve only been retired for five days now, so I’m not an expert. I’ve also spent most of that time at my cottage, so it feels more like a vacation than a retirement. When I get home, that’s when it’s going to be important for me to establish a new routine. 

I will end up with a routine no matter what, but I want my new routine to be something I design, something I desire and not something that just unfolds. 

When that first Monday morning hits, what will I do from 6 am to dinner time? How will those hours break down? 

I know that for me, I need things that will motivate me to get at tasks or activities and stick to them … or else I could revert back to those summer days when I was 15 years old. 

Remember them? – sleep till noon, wander around for the afternoon until you finally do something with your friends at night. 

… I don’t want to go back there. 

Here’s the thing: There is no real end when “that’s a wrap”; we roll into the next thing. And at the end of life, we will roll into eternity; our soul doesn’t end. It’s so important that you have a plan for what is next. The only way you can be sure that your “next” will be good is to plan now. Be sure you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He came for you, paid for your sin and is waiting for you.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: How are you planning for what’s next? Leave your comments and questions below. 

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