DAY 211 --- More Goals to Realize the Major One

Today, I left work early to go fishing with my son and two grand sons.  It was fun.  We went to Strawberry Reservoir.  After hiking a million miles to get to the water, we started fishing. 

As I climbed the small embankment, I tripped over a few loose rocks and wrenched my back.  Since many years ago I crushed my lower back disk, it has been tender.  And thus when I slipped today, it let that wonderful thing we call pain slowly creep into my aching body.  The rest of the night I pondered why I was up there.  Why was I fishing?  Why was I aching so bad that I questioned why I was trying to be normal and do what I needed to do when it comes to fishing, like walk, sit, set my pole, help carry equipment, etc.  (I guess it didn't help any when I didn't catch any fish. I had one hooked, but my line snapped.  Insult to injury, to losing my only fish...) 

I considered accepting the fact that I am too old, to infirm, too tender to go fishing any more.  I reviewed the many, many experiences I have had with sons, with grand sons, with friends, and on and on, and decided I should quit fooling myself.  I have many sweet memories fishing. 

I am old.  I am sore.  I am aching from injuries.  Why should I pretend that I am not?  As long as I don't have to climb mountains on my mission, as long as I don't have to traverse hills and valleys, we will be OK.

Then my sweet wife called me to repentance.  Sure I am 62 years old.  But I am not dead.  Sure I can't run marathons (never could) but I certainly can walk and walk fast.  Sure I can't do all I used to be able to do, but I can do.  It is my duty to strive to improve my health, overcome sore muscles and strengthen backs so that I can do some of these things.  She said don't accept, refuse to be old and shape up.  Quit accepting your sore back, neck etc, and work on getting them stronger.  Endure pain, set goals to be stronger and strengthen certain parts of the body. She is right.  Isn't it nice to have a wonderful wife who can see things as they really are?

Thus, I guess I need to set some more goals.  Little did I know when I started this thing that I would be adding so many other goals that need to be integral to the overall goal of serving a mission in 211 days.  One good goal deserves many others, I guess. Thus I need to think about new ones, and get on with it...