by Rich DuBose, with Terry and Kathleen Clem
I recently emailed Dr. Kathleen Clem, an acquaintance who used to live in Southern California with her husband, Terry. Years ago, Terry was a pastor in Southeastern California Conference when I worked there, and I meet Kathleen through social media. Kathleen chaired the Department of Emergency Medicine at Loma Linda University for nine years, before moving to Orlando, Florida where she was Senior Exec. VP for Clinical Operations for AdventHealth for several years. A few years ago when Terry retired they decided to step into a dream they've had to live in New England. That's a long way from Southern California or Florida, and of course the weather in the winter is another story altogether. I asked Kathleen for an update on how things are going:
"I am 1/2 retired. I work clinically in the ED at Dartmouth and am the first full professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine. I teach medical students and residents. I am also a certified coach and coach medical students and faculty. We have a home in New Hampshire, and a small farm in Vermont (Norman Rockwell lived and painted within walking distance from our Vermont farm).
"Terry is retired and runs our farm and is a pastor as needed for our small community in southern Vermont where our farm is located.
“Terry and I have always wanted to live in New England and are living our dream. Grandkids love to visit our farm. We raise Scottish Highlander cows, sheep, chickens, geese, and ducks. I help with the farm when I can. We have two Maine Coon cats and a Newfoundland dog. We are hoping for more puppies."
Dealing With Change
I have to say, Terry and Kathleen's “can-do spirit” inspires us all to ask the question, “What if?” It takes courage to make a big change in life at any age, but Terry and Kathleen have challenged themselves to pursue their dreams at a time when many choose to diminish their options for change. Yet, life is all about change—whether we like it or not. So either we learn to “roll with the punches” and let life call the shots (which it most certainly will do), or we decide to take charge and call the shots (with God's guidance).
According to Dr. Kathy the transition has been quite easy. If we can learn anything from what they're doing it is that if we want to have an adventurous life, we need to imagine it, pray about it, and start taking the necessary steps to make it happen. It may not work for everyone because everyone's circumstance is different. But one thing we know for sure, "nothing ventured, nothing gained." It is in stepping out that the “Red Sea” parts; that dreams start to compete with reality, and that doors begin to open and close.
Whatever we do, may we not die before we die.
Rich DuBose writes from Northern California.
Photos: (1) Kathleen & Terry Clem (2) Feeding time (3) Sheep (4) Newfoundland Dogs (5) Scottish Highlander Cows
