August 17, 2025: The Stubborn Quest

A picture of determination.

Last year, Sam and a friend tackled a hike. They left before sunrise for a 3 1/2 trip to the mountains and spent the day winding through trails before heading back late that evening.

But when he unpacked his bag at home, his iPhone was missing. He remembered slipping it into a side pocket near the end of the hike but then dozed off in the car, forgetting to check. Only when he got back did he realize the device had vanished.

Years ago, losing technology meant goodbye forever. But Apple’s built-in location services make recovery a lot easier.

So Sam pinged the phone, and the map showed it resting at the path's end. His heart sank. I told him not to worry since we’d file an insurance claim and get a replacement.

But determined, he and his buddy woke up early the next morning and made another long journey to the mountains. Hours later, following the ping, they found the untouched phone where it had fallen.

Amazing.

That kind of single-mindedness is rare in everyday life. But losing something precious can ignite an intensity, somehow shifting the mind into a different gear and refusing to rest until the mystery is solved.

For Sam, the search felt almost epic, and the return trip became part of the quest. As the years go by, he and his buddy probably won’t remember the hike as much as the rescue mission.

Which brings me to one of my favorite definitions: Determination is hope made stubborn.

Sam, thanks for showing me what that looks like.