April 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
Duck Ponderings: "For the challenge," is reason enough
It was 1970, my freshman year at Indiana State University, and I was visiting a friend on the fourth floor of Sandison Hall.
Within his room, there was one word on his bulletin board that stood out and could easily be seen, "IF." We had a short discussion about the "ifs" in life, and there certainly have been many days since which I have thought about that word.
Consequently, I have paid more attention to powerful words.
The following story is about another word experience:
I walked into my dad's workshop to find him busy as usual. It was a workshop we had designed together after his retirement as a welder from Cummins Engine Co.
Dad was fixing a rusted-out pig feeder for a neighbor. He was close to putting all the pieces together into a perfect fit, including a cone he had somehow fashioned without any technological advantages. He shared that he had figured it all out in his mind the night before, a strategy he had developed for many complicated jobs.
I had a deep appreciation for the neighbor wanting to be practical. However, I was also thinking he should have just purchased a new feeder while not expecting Dad to use his valuable time to fix the old one. I was somewhat upset with Dad for taking on the project knowing the hours required and knowing he would not even come close to charging for his time, probably enough to cover the price tag of a new one.
I looked at Dad and asked rather sharply, "Why in the world did you take on this job?"
Dad calmly responded to my disgust with the whole ordeal in three words, "For the challenge!"
I didn't say another word! I just looked at Dad's face, one that suddenly seemed much younger, and realized once again the value of his solemn yet effective teaching abilities.
Still today, I think of those wise words, "For The Challenge." Such words change us while making a difference in our lives as well as the lives of others.[[In-content Ad]]
