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A June 24 Mackinac Center President’s Council event featured David Bahnsen, who discussed his book “Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life.” Mackinac Center President Joseph G. Lehman provided an organizational update before Bahnsen talked about his book with Mackinac Center Director of Research Michael Van Beek.
Too many people have a low view of work, Bahnsen said, having fallen into a mindset of “work until I don’t have to anymore.” This, he said, is contrary to the true nature of work, which is core to our being. Each person, Bahnsen argued, is designed in the image of God and thus meant to be productive. “Our greatest happiness comes when we are ourselves having our needs met by meeting the needs of others.”
So is retirement bad? Not necessarily. Those who retire can still find great fulfillment by being productive – through volunteering, church involvement, or even hobbies.
We should discard the idea of “work-life balance,” Bahnsen told the audience. No one talks about a “marriage-life balance,” or a “kids-life balance,” he observed. Work cannot be “balanced” with life because it is part of life. Such a vital part of human happiness should not be looked down upon or seen as something to be endured until retirement.
We were not made for leisure, Bahnsen said, “we were made to work.”
