What are you doing now? October 05, 2026

What are you doing now?

As a Sister, how does one explain retirement? When I say that Sisters “recycle” rather than “retire”; I watch the expression on the other person’s face shift from acceptance to complete puzzlement. What I really want to do when someone asks: “What are you doing now?” is say “As little as possible.” I’ve tried that and people laugh. But I am serious. Living in a culture that rewards DOING and doesn’t understand BEING is a challenge. Efforts at simplifying one’s life are seldom understood. And frankly, I think that simplifying one’s life involves a counter-cultural stance.

When I first retired, I found plenty of things to DO: committees to serve one, groups to join. All that activity is losing my interest these days –except for flower gardening. Not having a JOB that one can claim forces one to reflect more deeply on the purpose of the days one is given and the learning that is still incomplete. Initially, I allowed the circumstances in which I found myself and the people with whom I interacted each day to provide answers to that question. Through them, I kept discovering calls to be present: accompanying someone to court; bringing meals to someone in confinement; visiting the sick in recovery; listening to the repeated stories of someone suffering from dementia; going to funerals and burials; taking someone to the hospital or a doctor’s appointment; praying with others for the intentions on the Merici Crossings Prayer Board; caring for plants that need assistance whether inside the house or outside; as well as participating in celebratory events.

And I am learning. As I reflect on the life of Angela Merici, I realize that she never had a real JOB, nor did she ever really RETIRE. She simply lived a life dedicated to serving others. She was committed to supporting the spiritual growth of women and her work took many forms throughout her life. She shared her secret and I am only now realizing the wisdom of her 10thCounsel:

The most direct path that leads us to God is undoubtedly that of the works of mercy.

Thanks to Angela, I am finding that the works of mercy provide the perfect formula for a meaningful life both before and after retirement. I discover each day multiple opportunities to engage in WORKS OF MERCY. I can’t wait to see the expression on the face of the next person who asks me: “What are you doing now?” when I respond: “Works of Mercy!”

Sister Anne Marie Diederich