I was enjoying reading our church bulletin until one article stopped me in my tracks.

Our esteemed Gwen is announcing her retirement.

Oh, no. I wasn’t happy to hear that. And at least briefly I wasn’t happy for her. I was too wrapped up in my own feelings about not wanting to lose her.

Gwen is a mainstay in our church. She is greatly loved, and especially great in doing a down-to-earth Gospel message that reaches out and touches us.

There are some people we never want to lose from our midst, and Gwen in certainly one of them.

Before she came to us she had a most successful career as a school principal.

When her mother got sick she left that role and came to our pastor asking for a role in the church. He immediately said there were no opening. But after his conversation with Gwen, he changed his mind. He knew she was extraordinary. He hired her as part of our pastoral staff.

For many years she made a major impact on our lives. My feeble words can’t express how she had a major influence on us.

She admits that she has no idea what she will do next. It certainly won’t be a typical retirement.

One of our most pivotal times happen when we make a major change.

No one knows what comes next. Will it be a good move? Or will we regret it?

Often, it’s just an act of faith.

Most of you probably know I just did a major overhaul of my life. I did what I never expected to do when I left my home of 22 years to move to what is basically a retirement community.

Believe me, it is one drastic change in lifestyle. Right now I can say I am happy to have a freer lifestyle that doesn’t involve cooking every night, or taking care of a house. If something breaks I can call our in-house repairmen.

But there’s a lot we give up for this lifestyle. Someone else’s cooking often falls short, and I so miss the birds and wildlife I had at my former house.

What I like best living here are the friends I made. Already they pledged they will be here for me if David or I need help.

Several have lost their husband after a debilitating illness. They know how much it means to have friends to help you through life’s difficulties.

None of us knows what we will face, but it’s comforting to know we won’t be alone.

When we make a major change we don’t know if it’s a smart move or not.

The most dreaded change I ever made was when I had to leave the comforts of my hometown for the first time.

I’m definitely a small town girl and I loved everything about our small town living. I especially loved being surrounded by my big Italian family.

I was fond of saying that I knew every man, woman and child in addition to the names of their pets. I never wanted to live anyplace else, and I never thought I would.

But when we had to relocate for my husband’s new job I had to put my feelings aside and be supportive.

I thought I was just making the best of a sad situation. Because I had no crystal ball, what I didn’t know was that our move was the best thing to happen to us. Career-wise and personally, some major things came our way that never would have happened if we had stayed in our hometown.

After my husband Andy died I had another major relocation when I moved to Florida. I knew no one there and had no clue if the move would be a positive one.

I expected to be lonely but that never happened. My new lifestyle that came with Florida living turned out to be joyful.

For 22 years I loved my life. I surprised myself when I made the decision to turn my home over to my daughter and move with my husband to South Port Square retirement community. It’s a completely different lifestyle from anything in my past.

Will it be a good move?

There’s an old story about a wise man that says it all.

A wise man was asked by a traveler if the town ahead would be a good one. The wise man answered by asking the traveler what his last town was like. The traveler said his last town was awful.

The wise man said the next town would also be just as awful.

When another man asked the wise man what he would find in the road ahead the wise man again asked what the last town was like.

Oh, it was wonderful. The people and the town were great,” the man answered.

“Well, your next town will also be great,” the wise man said.

The wise man was pointing out that we see what we expect to see. Our expectations can be colored by our past.

I don’t know if that makes sense to you, but I truly believe it based on my past.

I don’t know what comes next for me in my new kind of retirement life.

But based on positive past experiences, I am expecting wonderful things.

Email Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net