The fishing trip to San Diego has started. Over the last two days, we have driven from Jefferson, Oregon, to San Diego, California. The first day, we drove for twelve hours to Bishop, California, and stayed overnight in a motel. Today, we drove for eight hours to San Diego. The driving was mainly on back roads, and it was beautiful, with mountains and two herds of elk. I am going on this trip with my friend Scott Haven, and he drove the entire time, both days, so I have had a relaxing time looking at the scenery, sleeping, and reading on my iPad. Tonight we went out to a very nice restaurant and had a great meal. Tomorrow begins the adventure. In the morning, we get checked in and board the boat with our luggage. There will be 28 people on the ship, including captains and deckhands. It will be noon before everybody gets checked in and their gear is hauled on board and stowed, and we head out to sea.

This trip is a lot like going to heaven. I am very excited about going, but I have never experienced this before, and all the unknowns make me anxious. My nervousness is not based on fear but simply on not knowing what is going to happen. It is a good kind of anxiety. An eagerness to get on board and catch my first fish, but not knowing how it will come about. There are so many unknowns about death, going to heaven, and my new glorified body that I get anxious. Not a bad kind of anxiety that is related to fear, but simply not knowing and wondering. It is an eagerness that results in nervousness about the unknown. It is a good thing.