By Dr. Rocky Wallace

This is the season of year when veteran colleagues typically decide it’s time. After months of reflection, prayer, discussing with family, discussing with colleagues, doing the math, imagining what it will be like to not start back up in August, and often with eyes filled with tears–they turn in their retirement letter.

For many, their stomach churns with angst as they are humbled by the many congratulatory conversations and well-wishes…And it churns as their colleagues celebrate a lunch in their honor…It churns when they watch students in their last class exit the room…It churns as they clean out their office…It churns as they put on their regalia on graduation morning…It churns as they march into the auditorium, as so many springs before…It churns as they sit through their last graduation ceremony…And the tears flow as they drive away from campus—on their way home.