Un Consejo aunque sea de un conejo.
" Take a bit of advice even from a rabbit."

“A son's advice."

Up in the Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington there is a six foot tall kayaker that is having such a good time. He has shared his wisdom with me.

“Dad, do not stop doing your rehab exercises because you will be constantly going back to your former state of weakness. It is like with my kayaking. The moment I stop paddling, the wind pushes me backwards. You have to be consistent and keep paddling papa or you will loose your muscles and waste your progress.”

It is as if it was yesterday that I was changing his diapers and now he is giving me sound advice as if I was his kid and not the other way around.
He is not suppose to know more than I do but he knows things that actually makes me proud. He is already a dispenser of Wisdom and not only a consumer.

Caleb tells me that, “In the last few year that we have been apart from one another, you have learned a lot of things papa and I am amazed at your progress.”

Then he clarifies sweetly to me saying that, “Now that I am married and have my own children, I am discovering many things you taught us are actually true in my own experience Gera.” (Short for Gerardo that only my oldest sister calls me Gera.)

I finally have a good treadmill and rehab is within reach, “I think?”
Balance and steps to second floor and basement are still very challenging. My left arm seems to have permanently left on vacation and my only active member that works over time is my right thumb on my iPhone.

My good old Christian doctor is not optimistic in letting me go to the Andes Mountains of Peru. It is killing me not to do what I want to do when I want to do it and where I want to do it. BUT it sure is good to know that my God does not only know the end from the beginning and every step of the way.

God has set the number of my heartbeats and until the appointed time comes, I am indestructible, invincible, immortal, and unbeatable. My laughter always changes my tears of sorrow into tears of joy.

Last night I shared with my daughter a twenty year old story of how one day in Peru I discovered my hair falling in great quantities so that I could see my skull clearly. I also noticed that all the hair from my armpits was gone and instead I saw several small volcanoes looking like pimples under both of my armpits. I was told that they were my lymph nodes.

Around that time I was studying aboiut the two things that impresses Jesus: “The faith of the Centurion and the lack of faith of God’s people.” Right there and right then I decided to impress my Jesus by trusting Him as a child trusts his father and I did nothing which included not talking about it unill now.”

Is twenty years long enough to “toot my horn?” Which in Christian language means, “testifying.” I am just an incurable witness of Jesus and his love and his grace. There you have it. Living in denial works for me. Yes, denial of everything but of Jesus my hope of glory in childlikeness.

Sometimes I look like a Swan in a calm lake but underneath by faith I am paddling like mad. Now, more than ever before, I am paddling like a furious kayaker against strong wins of adversity with very little energy left in my old bones.

Love has “banged at my front and back doors” again, but I’d rather have Jesus. My loved ones call it “hubris,” but whatever it is I have plenty of fight left in me to fight the good fight.

“Jesus’ hit man.”

Gerry Gutierrez.

PS. Pictures are of Caleb my "advisor" and sweet Kelly in Tacoma.