Canyon Ministries

Goals Aren’t Always As Important As We Think They Are

“Last week I did the North Kaibab Trail. It was really busy but beautiful weather and a beautiful trail.  Learned about goals and how they aren’t always as important as we think they are. I’ll write it down someday.”

These were the last words posted to Facebook by our guide, Paul Weaver. Two days later, on October 12th, Paul suddenly passed away from a medical complication while riding his mountain bike on the trails overlooking Flagstaff.

There has only been one other event in my life that brought more devastating and shocking news to me. Even as I write this now, it’s hard to see the screen through the well of tears in my eyes. These tears are a co-mingling of both sad loss and proud gain in knowing Paul and calling him our friend and brother during his time here at Canyon Ministries.

Somehow, these final words Paul posted have deeply resonated with me this past month.

“Learned about goals and how they aren’t always as important as we think they are.”

That phrase has been circling my mind like the trailing wisp of smoke from a richly-scented candle that was just blown out. Similarly, we too have lost a light here at Canyon Ministries, but the warmth and aroma produced while that flame burned are still felt by all who were graced by its illumination.

Though it’s been over a month since Paul stepped into the presence of our indescribable God, it’s taken me a while to process some of my thoughts and write them down. For in Paul’s last post, I believe there is a lesson to be learned—a resonating message that will echo long after it was spoken.

Goals. We all have them. As director of this amazing ministry, I also have them. We work hard to create an atmosphere of excellence in every trip, tour, and adventure we create. Paul greatly added to that spirit of excellence. Having a full-time tour and backpacking guide like Paul was a major goal that took years to accomplish. With the financial support of our Canyon Ministries family of donors, along with the growth of our ministry outreach and tours, we were finally able to reach that goal.

Paul came out at the beginning of 2022 from Indiana and was soon joined by his amazing wife Stephanie after she finished out the school year as a teacher.  After months of training, trails, and tests Paul was really “hitting his stride” in doing what he loved to do here at the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas.  Never have I met a person more enthused about exploring every hill and hummock from here to Holbrook.

Having Paul on our team as a full-time guide was a major goal that we accomplished.  The loss of him was a big setback in many ways, not just because we lost a friend and brother, but because we were now left lacking in our team and tour operations.  Initially, for me, this was a big concern.  A goal that we had achieved was no longer accomplished.  I felt devastated in many ways.  Yet, those trailing words of Paul kept circling my mind.

“Learned about goals and how they aren’t always as important as we think they are.”

In my mind, I think maybe what Paul was trying to say is “The journey is sometimes more meaningful than the destination.”  Paul was all about the journey in life—enjoying every aspect of being fully immersed in wherever he found himself.  It’s why, instead of just sitting around the house on his days off, he went out exploring and adventuring.  When he passed away, he was doing just that.  He was on his bike, surrounded by God’s creation and doing something he loved.

In reflecting on the life Paul lived, it made me think.  The journey of life itself as we work toward a goal is just as important as the goal itself—maybe even more important.  Maybe the lessons God teaches us as we walk with Him are realized along the way, rather than at the finish line.

Pondering this made me ask a question in relation to the ministry.  “If our goals aren’t as important as we think they are, then what is?”  As soon as I asked myself that question, I knew the answer.  Whether from my own mind, or the mind of the Maker, I was given one simple word of illumination.  People.  People are the most important thing.  Truly that was one thing Paul excelled in, connecting with people.

Goals are admirable.  Vision is required.  However, it’s the personal relationships that are the most important focus we should have side-by-side with others as we journey together in life.  Like a magnifying glass held in sunlight, those final words of Paul have helped me refocus that illumination into white-hot energy in remembering what’s truly and eternally important.  For me, it’s become a personal challenge and rubric to filter all aspects of our ministry through.  Focus on what’s truly and eternally important, and let go of whatever is simply excess weight and worry.

“I’ll write it down someday.” 

That sentence was the final part of Paul’s last message to the world.  After finishing the backpacking trip and making his post on Facebook, he told me he had a new blog he was going to write about the experience.

He never got to write down those thoughts this side of eternity.  But maybe he didn’t have to.  Maybe the message he was trying to convey is now written on our hearts in a more indelible way than a blog could ever accomplish.

Like the shining gem that Paul was, perhaps his last post is multifaceted and will forever speak to each of us in different ways.  Maybe what I gained from it is something entirely different than he was even meaning to say.  Who knows?

I’ll ask him the next time I see him.

Nate

The pictures in this post were taken by Paul on his last backpacking trip.