Just sayin', Life experiences, Life Goals

ON TURNING 55

This week I turned 55.

So I have been doing a little inventory regarding getting a little older.

Yes, I realize 60 is the new 30 but still…I am on a quest for aging well .

I want to borrow from writer Brenda Smith who learned the following lessons from observing her aging parents:

(1) Aging isn’t optional, being ‘old’ is. Keep making plans or you’re subconsciously giving yourself permission to die. Dad believed he owed rent on his earthly space and he paid it by giving back to others.

(2) God is real. Mom struggled with depression as her Parkinson’s disease progressed. However, she looked for God’s hand in everything, and a lifetime of believing helped her to see His sufficiency even more in her final years.

(3) Time is a gift. David said, “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have” (Ps 90:12 CEV). Dad told a friend of his, “When you’ve so little time left, you can’t spend it doing stupid things. You learn to invest in things that count.”

(4) Sickness doesn’t create sainthood. It’s a test of patience, emotional restraint and maturity. When Dad was incapacitated he discovered that old age and sickness don’t automatically draw you closer to God. He still had to discipline his mind to delight in the Lord and to find true joy in Christ.

(5) Laughter revives the soul. After her father became ill, Smith writes about how this revered writer, speaker and consultant, “ended up smiling as he stared down at his size 46 waistline that took a dive each time he stood up from his wheelchair!” When Mother Nature and Father Time get through with all of us, we’ll gaze into the mirror and either laugh or cry. Since “Laughter doeth good like a medicine” (See Pr 17:22), and since God’s prepared a wonderful new body for us in heaven, make up your mind to go out with joy!

And I would like to add a 6th.

(6th) Forgiveness plus good family and friends = hope for tomorrow. – There is so much talk these days about “sustainable living” without a lot of sustainable relationships.

Life without a lifetime of forgiveness is no life at all.

Here is a good quote to end this blog post tonight. “A good marriage is made up of two forgivers.” – Ruth Graham Bell

Oh and why not just throw this one in too.

(7th) Get outside and explore while you are able. Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the wind. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Live long and prosperous my friend.

Steve

“I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is…God’s applause!” 2 Timothy 4:7 TM

leadership, Life Goals, outdoors, Yosemite

Yosemite/Half Dome Hikers Club

Just wanted to posted a few pics and reflection from my week in Yosemite National Park.
Each year 4 million people enter Yosemite Valley and every one of them sees Half Dome.

(double click the pic with your mouse to enlarge for a better view)

A very small percentage of them consider hiking to the top. Of that small percentage, an even smaller percentage make it to the top.

This hike has been on my list of “Gotta Do” Hikes for a long time. For years I’ve wanted to make this trip, but I have never found the time to prepare or train for this trip. Last week on August 17th, A group lead by my friend Joel Malm of Summit Leaders and I made it to the top.

http://www.summitleaders.org/

The top of Half Dome was worth the wait and the journey was definitely an adventure to remember.

The first view of the cables is intimidating, but the set of switchbacks cut into granite are equally intimidating. These switchbacks are more of a Class 2 scramble than a Class 1 trail.

The “Cables” are the cable system that help you get to the top. The Forest Service requires you to have a permit to climb the cables.

The cables are very intimidating because:
• If you slip you will fall to your death, no doubt about it
• It takes a lot of energy to climb up the steep slope.
• The high elevation (8,836′) makes it very difficult to climb up the steep 50+
degree slope. It’s steeper than the pictures render.
• You are tired from walking 8 miles uphill just to get to this point.

Once on top you feel amazing, tired and challenged…..because you have to get down.

We enjoyed the view at the top for about one hour before we headed back down. When we were at the top, there were probably 100 other people also celebrating. When we came back down the cables, there were at least another 100+ people climbing up the cables. We fought our way down squeezing past the climbers.

Some overwhelming desire forces me to identify the ledge I stood on which overlooked the Yosemite Valley. I don’t know why, but since I’ve been to the top, Half Dome looks different.

So glad I went up – So glad I listened to a friend of mine who told me “don’t even think about it Steve, just climb it”.

Here are just a few pics of some other spot in this amazing place called Yosemite.

The Valley with deer that have no fear.

El capiton had four climbers that were in day three of their five day mission….We had binoculars and could see them make the ascent.

The Valley at night is magical.

The Muir trail on the way back was fantastic.

Big time thanks go out to all the friends that joined in and Joel Malm with Summit Leaders. I highly recommend this organization if you are looking for a top drawer adventure and first class experience.

What a great event!

Steve (HALF DOME HIKES CLUB since August 2011)

DVD's I'm watching, Life Goals, outdoors, Travel

MOUNTAIN OF STORMS

In 1968 I was in the 5th grade and climbing the black soiled hills of Iowa …. but In the Summer of 1968 Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins founder of Northface rounded up a some friends and a Volkswagon bus. The embarked on an epic 6 month road journey from San Francisco to the Chilean Patagonia, surfing, skiing and hiking along the way. Mountain of Storms is the testament. Nice to know the company’s founders are the real deal. Years later most anyone who loves the outdoors is grateful for their gear.

– Great film.

Mount Fitzroy – Patagonia

Anybody wanna go?

Life Goals, Ministry, new years

QUESTIONS ABOUT 2011?

I don’t know about you, but 2010 was a very challenging year for a lot of us to say the least.

The temptation I have when things get tough is to hold back and be reserved or reticent about goal setting for the future.

Unless you are a quitter that is not the right approach.

Here is a great way to approach this next year.

Start by asking some questions.

Questions for the New Year!

It’s miserable trying to play a part for which you’re ill suited. It’s like walking in shoes that don’t fit. So this coming year ask yourself: What am I good at? What do I enjoy doing most? What accomplishments make me feel best? List 5 moments in your life when you were acutely aware of this sensation. Does this reveal anything about your purpose? If money was not a consideration what would you want to do to fill your days? How does this compare with where you are now? What one small step can you take right now – one phone call made, one letter written, one e-mail sent – to move you toward your true calling? What have you learned about your purpose through failures? Are some areas clearly not a part of your calling at this point? Who do you admire for the way they’ve applied their talents? How are you like them? What can you learn from them? How would you describe your vision for your life this year? Five years from now? Ten? Who are the people in your life who really “get” who you are? Have you asked them what they think your purpose might be? Have they given indications of how they think you should use your talents? If you could write you own obituary, what would you want it to say? What would you like to be remembered for?
While we never arrive at our final destination in this life, we can get on the right path, with the right tools, making the right choices along our way!

WRITE OUT TEN TANGIBLE GOALS FOR 2011-

1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________
7. ______________________________________________________________
8. ______________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________
10. _____________________________________________________________

With God’s help I will see these Ten accomplish this year
signed ____________________________________
Remember to be SMART about setting goals

S – specific, significant

M – measurable, meaningful, motivational

A – attainable, achievable, action-oriented

R – realistic, rewarding, results-oriented

T – time-based, tangible, trackable
New Years Day is a great time to settle down a write down some tangible goals for 2011.

“GOD SAID…’BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY.'” GENESIS 1:28

Or a friend of mine used to tell me – Hey Steve, “Set your goal, know your roll and pay the toll.”

Happy new year.

Blessings.

Steve Lummer

Bikes, cycling, Life Goals, Mountain biking

we ENDURE.com

If you like to run, swim or cycle, check out this link.

weENDURE.com helps you track your activity and let you monitor your workouts.

I love this workout journal.

February 04, 2010

Posted at 09:31 AM

Distance 7.20 miles
Time 01:10:00
Average Speed 6.17 mph
Average Pace 9:43 min/mile

0 comments

Brownlow trail in prescott – great tacky dirt
Sewel, Becker, and Middlemore and I road today.

January 30, 2010

Posted at 09:28 AM

Distance 14.00 miles
Time 02:00:00
Max Speed 4.70 mph
Average Speed 7.00 mph
Elevation 3000.00 feet
Average Pace 8:34 min/mile

Black Canyon City – Table Mesa to boyscout loop and back.

32 other rmtn bikers.

Cycling

Happy ENDURING.

Steve

church family, Life Goals, Ministry, outdoors, rivers

COLORADO RIVER CATHEDRAL WEDDING

I just received an invitation last night to officiate the wedding of two very amazing young people.

Kyle and Kristin will start the journey together this September when they covenant together in marriage.

kyle n kristin

I have performed many weddings in the past 30 years but this wedding is going to be a amazing!

Kyle’s father is a river guide on the Colorado River and we will have the wedding in the Colorado river Cathedral. Wow, can’t wait for this ceremony.

Kyle just completed his Wild Land Certification test as a EMT this week.

I love being a pastor. I get to see so many people suceed in their life mission.

kyle and pastor

glen canyon map

I have done the lower section of the Colorado in 08′ and 09′ so this upper trip is goin to be be a real nice gift.

05_Colorado_River_overlook_Page_AZ_(768x1024)

This is one of the most amazing places on the planet. – Why not get married there.

Good choice Kyle and Kristin!

Life Goals

ONE OF MY LIFE GOALS….RIDING RAGBRAI

Today a 36 six year old tradition began.

One of my life goals is to be able to ride RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI is a bike ride across Iowa.

The ride started in 1973 by two riders and today almost 10,000 people ride across my home state of Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI ride across Iowa..

The RAGBRAI route averages 472 miles and is not necessarily flat. It begins somewhere along Iowa’s western border on the Missouri River and ends along the eastern border on the Mississippi River.

It is a week long ride across the corn feilds of IOWA.

I will start now to make preparations for the 2009 ride across Iowa

Next year’s RAGBRAI is July 19 – 25, 2009 – RAGBRAI XXXVI.

http://www.ragbrai.org

I will update you on my progress and trainning for the ride throughout this next year.

stevelummer.com

Category Archives: Life Goals