“To give room for wandering is it that the world was made so wide.” – John Muir1
A lot has happened since we last met here. My aim was to tell you about all that in a series of short, light-hearted stories and entitle it ‘How I Spent My Summer Vacation’. But recent events have admittedly given me pause to being excessively jovial in this moment. On the other hand, what is this Beyond Strength endeavor if not intended to uplift, inspire, encourage, and motivate despite tribulation, challenge, or heartache in the event of such things?
So here goes. How I spent my summer vacation.
The Perfect Wedding
I didn’t intend to be quite as busy as I am at this point in my life, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. I just don’t sit still very well. I like to stay busy. I like traveling and treating each experience as a new adventure. And I also enjoy giving back. I find purpose and meaning in sharing my experiences with others who don’t have the same opportunities; maybe allowing them to live vicariously through me in some way. And perhaps helping still others through difficult circumstances by inspiring or motivating them. Or if nothing else, reminding them what not to do by sharing from the abundance of my mistakes. This summer has been no different.
I’ve traveled over 17,000 miles, made endless memories, and lived a lifetime of adventures the last three months. My little girl’s wedding kicked off a very busy June. Months of planning, praying, organizing, and attending to every detail resulted in what was quite literally a near-perfect wedding. From rehearsal to reception, wedding gown to weather, nothing went wrong. Even a series of unfortunate events that caused our daughter and son-in-law unnecessary grief and uncertainty just weeks before the wedding ended up being an incalculable blessing…one that resulted in perhaps the most God-honoring wedding ceremony I have ever witnessed. God is good. But I’m going to be honest…I was a mess.
It’s perplexing to me that even though years of experiencing the worst of humanity has numbed me to a point not much phases me, the first reveal of my baby girl in her wedding dress on her special day nearly ended me. I was a wreck! I thought I was ready. I had rehearsed events of the day; I had done everything I was told to do; I made sure nothing I was responsible for went haywire; I planned my attire, got a haircut, trimmed my beard, paid the bill, helped set up, got everyone I was responsible for there who was supposed to be, and I labored over my father-of-the-bride toast. I even thought ahead to print and leave four photos with special significance at each table that would be explained during my toast. Everything was ready and perfect. Except my emotions.
His young man’s body is gone, but he’s an expert at using what’s left…2
A work trip, fundraiser speaking engagement, music festival, Father’s Day, birthday, and a mission trip to France account for the rest of June’s highlight reel. In all, a pretty amazing month for Ancient Dave, Vintage Dave, Jurassic Dave, Retro Dave, and Ancient of Daves as I came to be known in France thanks to another Dave on the team who happened to be a couple measly decades younger. More on that trip later, perhaps.
Bodies, Beans, Bourbon, and Boston
Ryan Leak says, “Giving shifts your focus from what’s missing to what matters.” A give more than you take mindset results not only in blessing, improving, helping others, and making the world a better place, but you might find you receive the biggest blessing yourself.
A little downtime after France merged quickly into another trip to Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette to help deliver a training course. This investigative course is one of my favorites and is coordinated annually through NMU’s Forensic Research Outdoor Station (FROST). FROST is one of only a few outdoor forensic anthropology facilities dedicated to human taphonomy research (the study of processes affecting the human body after death) using bodies donated by individuals themselves or by their next-of-kin for this type of research.
July wasn’t all work, as a fly-in fishing trip to Northern Ontario came next. I was admittedly dubious about spending an entire week miles from civilization in a rundown cabin at the sole resort on an enormous remote lake only accessible by float plane. In fact, my daughter said “This is the beginning of a scary movie. Key words: small plane, remote island, no service…I’ve watched a movie like this before.” Yet despite all that, mice cohabitating with us, and even a visiting snake in the cabin, having no other choice but to slow down, relax, learn new skills, and completely take in the experience resulted in a most memorable adventure. It didn’t hurt that the side-dish game enjoyed for years by perennial fishing greats was leveled up considerably from beans and ketchup to things like spinach Florentine; the result of the simple and recent development of inviting wives along on the trip. Genius!
It was quickly back to business for an annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, followed by family, friends, home projects, and an abundance of admin preparing for what will be a very busy Fall travel schedule.
First stop: Boston.
The good news is, I’m learning to better appreciate and value how retirement lends itself to balancing business with pleasure. So why not take the RV to New England? It’s been in the shop more than the woods this season, so it seemed like a good idea. Mental note to build in extra time on each end to experience more of the ‘pleasure’ part of that equation. But overall it was a great experience and test run at living out of an RV compared to a hotel room when it lends itself to doing so throughout the work week.
“Only he loved roaming too much…” – Martha (in Goethe’s Faust) 3
There is a section in Chapter 21 of 2 Samuel that retells of war (again) between the Philistines and Israel. David was King of Israel this time, unlike earlier when he felled Goliath as a young shepherd. During said account, this sentence is found at the end of verse 15: “And David grew weary.” Do tell.
Fortunately, one of his men stepped in and dropped the Philistine who thought to kill David in that moment. Then his men said to him, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.” (v. 17)
Great leaders listen to their people.
There will come a time when this David grows weary, too. Honestly, I sometimes feel that way now. But nothing you go through is wasted. As long as I’m able I’ll continue fighting the good fight of service to others, ever seeking to make up for wasted time and trying to atone for some of the dumb things I’ve done.
Until then, Lord willing, I aim to continue all this magnificent restlessness. What about you?
Get Strong. Be Strong. Stay Strong.
1 John Muir: our national parks (2009, June). Journal of American History. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://archive.oah.org/special-issues/teaching/2009_06/sources/ex1doc3_nationalparks_trans.html
2 McDougall, C. (2015). Natural born heroes. Alfred A. Knopf. (Talking of Odysseus from Homer’s Iliad)
3 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Faust part I: scenes VII to XV (2003). Poetry in Translation. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/German/FaustIScenesVIItoXV.php