The Chase

 

Pressing On

I am following a road in retirement, now joined by my husband, but I have to say that it's more like a chase. I love this verse that I memorized a long time ago while in college in Platteville, Wisconsin: "I have not obtained the ultimate prize yet [a new resurrected heavenly body], nor am I perfect, but I press on for the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12)." I am pressing on and chasing a new life in heaven with Christ, but the process involves continuing what good mission, what good times with friends and family I can still experience here on earth. Chasing that upward prize is a worthy quest on my road and time is of the essence.

The Chase

I have been chasing a dream since I was a young girl to get out of the house, love my friends, get an education, and live a meaningful life. Falling in love with God, marrying Chris, having children, helping high school kids succeed, all became part of the "upward" call; and the chase was on. Even with my current handicapped physical state, I feel that I still have a mission to chase. Most recently, I literally went on a chase; well, actually Chris and I took a brief adventure to a place we’ve frequented before called Chase on the Lake.

Chase on the Lake

Chase on the Lake is a famous northern Minnesota resort on the eastern banks of Leech Lake, the third largest body of water in Minnesota. The resort is in the city of Walker which Chris and I used to describe as a getaway for Twin Cities folk looking for an escape into the country. This Northwoods destination is less than a three-hour drive away and has great dining, fresh air, some higher-end clothing shops, and sports. It's near the confluence of some of the best paved bicycle trails in the world. Chris and I have been part of 20-year bike group that has stayed here a few times, to hit the trails (literally, since some of our memories are of crashes). It's also a winter wonderland where summer bike trails and soft-water skiing morph into groomed winter snowmobile trails and hardwater fishing. 

Let’s Go . . . We’re Retired

I heard that the resort was running lodging specials and started to pester Chris for a winter break; laying down the old “retired card.” I was seeing myself cozying up with a hot chocolate in a posh hotel room with a view of a frosty frozen lake surrounded by leafless aspen and evergreen red-, white-, and jack-pines. The social aspect of "The Chase" was a carrot as well; most likely abuzz with people looking to beat winter by enjoying cold-weather sports by day and relaxing to live music and good food at night. I had a long-range vision as well, viewing this trip as a mini-dry run for succeeding retirement excursions. Of course, human nature stepped in, the "human" meaning Chris and "nature" being Mr. Grump reminding me that the dust is STILL settling on the whole retirement thing. No worries. 

Trip On! Trip Off!

I proceeded to launch an effective campaign of convincing Chris to relent; hitting him from all sides with sly hints on my word chart, getting my care workers, PT-OT therapists, and church ladies to assist with the pressure on newly retired Chris on how good this escape would be for us. Success. Chris relented and booked a couple of nights at the Chase. And then my good fortune turned. As it is with Parkinson's disease, especially in advanced stages, some days are worse than others and some are just downright scary weird. The evening before our morning departure for the pines of Walker we were attending an award ceremony on the campus of the University of North Dakota. We got situated in a parking ramp but when trying to maneuver from the passenger seat into my wheelchair, I suddenly had no functional strength in my legs. This was new. We left immediately and could barely get into our home, Chris managing somehow to get me out of the car and into bed. We contemplated a trip to the ER or next morning urgent care, prayed and then decided to get some sleep and reassess in the morning. 

Trip On

Early in the morning I had most of my strength again! Apparently, the night before was an episode of "being off," a Parkinson's phrase describing a disconnect between brain function and motor cells, even with proper ingestion of levodopa; the medicine for dopamine deficiency. We got cleaned up, ate some breakfast, readied the vehicle, and then called the resort, since we had canceled everything the evening prior. In our hearts we heard God saying, "Press on!" The manager still had our "ocean-view” upper floor corner room with its six windows and patio overlooking the entire lake. That was all the confirmation we needed, and we headed east in bright sunlight. We rejoiced and were so grateful for the strength and nudging of God to press on. The weekend was not a bust, our handicapped accessible room was fantastic, the sunrise and sunsets over the glistening snowcapped lake and deep green forest rim were stunning and the entire three days were sunny and dry, making wheelchair travel navigable. Oh, and the shopping was wonderful. 

Let's Press On

I thank God for little victories like the Chase. As we packed up to leave on a Sunday morning, donning our sporty new purchases, we with 25 million other Americans watched Jack Hughes a U.S. Hockey Olympian take a high stick to the mouth and literally pick his front teeth off the ice in the fight for the gold medal against Canada. But he must have read Philippians 3:12 as well because he "pressed on for the goal;" staying in the game and literally scoring the winning goal two minutes into OT. Like Jack, I am trying to stay in the game and press on. 

Direction

But the key, to pressing on successfully, as I see it, is not exerting more gumption, trying harder, or being more intelligent. No, the key is direction. That little detail is of utmost importance. I need to press on in an "upward" direction; metaphorically where Christ is seated, where God abides. That’s where unbelievable inspiration, hope and strength are found. From a recent daily devotion, “We can chase after everything this world has to offer, but in the end pursuing those things apart from God will always leave us empty.” Let’s press on aiming high.