A Family Affair

We continue to have very good sessions with the counselor. Afterward we headed to Golden, CO, where Karin got to visit a quilt shop and we took a tour of the Coors brewery. But the real highlight was driving to Loveland, CO, where we visited our nephew, Karl. Karl lives in Fort Collins, but works in urban development for Loveland. We learned a lot about his work and had a great dinner (it was also Karl's birthday over the weekend).

Sunday Insights

A few insights on a Sunday afternoon:

1. Denver people have interesting driving habits. During the week, they can drive at a very leisurely pace. It isn't uncommon for people to drive 10-15 miles an hour below the speed limit on the Interstate. If you can go the speed limit, you're doing very well. It's not because of heavy traffic - it's just that people take their time. However, on Saturday the traffic moved at about the speed limit. Perhaps people who are looking forward to getting to the mountains for the day? But, this morning the traffic was moving along at 5 or more mph over the speed limit. I wonder... could it be the Christians hurrying to worship who are the speeders? Hmmm....

2. The pastor this morning used to sit in the balcony while I preached at Immanuel CRC in Orange City. That tells me two things: first, the Spirit can work, even in the balcony. Second, I'm getting old...

3. I've been thinking about the themes and things I've been learning on the sabbatical. Here are a few things that stand out:

A. I anticipated some time of solitude and silence at Iona, but found that the experience was much more about community and about healing and reconciliation. These themes are important to me, and are significant for the ministry of Pella I. To be a healthy community, where we love and respect one another, where we can disagree and still be loved brothers and sisters in Christ, where we can welcome diversity as part of God's beautiful family -- these are things that we are learning together. And there is a lot of brokenness, sorrow, grief, and pain in the lives of a lot of people in Pella, and God calls us to a ministry of reconciliation, to heal the wounds of life in a broken world. The things I've learned at Iona, at Luther Seminary, and here in Denver all help me to have a renewed passion for the ministry of the Church.

B. I came to Quiet Waters anticipating examining how God has been at work in me through the past 46 years, with an eye to what may lie ahead in the next 20 or so. However, I've had some new insight into myself, and into how I experience the joys and sorrows of life and ministry. God seems to be taking a different path than I had anticipated on this sabbatical.

C. "I lift up my eyes to the mountains.... My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth." We have seen the wonder and glory of the mountains and hills and countrysides of Scotland, Germany, and Colorado. We have been brought to places of breathtaking beauty, where we were compelled to cry out with the creation, "Glory!" The mountains and hills, the oceans and rivers, the cities and countrysides, and people of all languages and cultures proclaim the creative wisdom of God. Glory be to God!

D. I have been made more keenly aware of how blessed I am with the family I have. God has given me a wonderful gift in Karin -- a beautiful complement so that we strengthen and encourage each other. I was blessed with terrific parents who provided me a stable home and encouraged me to excel. I am blessed with fantastic children who delight my heart and make me smile. And I have been blessed with the true family, the family of God, the Church. Thank you, God, for the gift of family.

Rocky Mountain High

Today is Saturday, so there was no counseling appointment. And, since I've got all my "homework" from the counselor done, Karin and I headed to Rocky Mountain National Park. We entered from Estes Park, and drove through the park along the Trail Ridge Road to Grand Lake. We then decided to try a new route and followed the Fraser River valley south through Winter Park, and on to Interstate 70, where we headed back east to Denver. It was a long day, with a lot of driving (some of it quite intense as we drove the mountain roads), but we saw the glory of God revealed in his creation.

We marveled at the geology and the biology of the Rocky Mountains. We drove through a variety of eco-systems as we ascended and descended, and we saw the majestic Rockies, glacial deposits, a variety of rock formations. We were sad to see that many of the lodgepole and other pine trees were dead or dying because of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation. Forests that would normally be evergreen were brown. Still, the views were gorgeous. Taking photos with a digital point-and-shoot camera can't possibly do justice to the wonders we saw, but we'll share a few photos anyway.
As we traveled through Rocky Mountain National Park along the Trail Ridge Road, we followed switch-backs and drove with no guardrails and very deep drop-offs. Karin was quite anxious about the drive, and even though I was driving, I was a bit nervous on a number of occasions. Still, we saw beautiful mountains and lakes and streams and wildlife. The road crosses the Continental Divide, and goes up over 12,000 feet! (There I am, "savoring the moment," this time on the Alpine Ridge Trail at 12,005 feet.)
We saw some wildlife, and got to see two species up-close. While at about 12,000 feet overlooking the Gore Range, we came upon a yellow-bellied marmot, enjoying a view of the mountains. Although we got a close-up view of him from behind, he wasn't interested in us, as he kept looking away at the beautiful view in front of him. Who could blame him?

In addition to the yellow bellied marmot, we got an up-close look at a herd of elk near the Alpine Ridge Trail.

The weather today was beautiful. Bright sunshine, a few stray clouds, pleasant temperatures (although it got quite chilly and windy at 12,000 feet). It was the nicest day we've had, and we enjoyed it!

Special photo for the YACS: This is Poudre Lake, the source of the Cache la Poudre River, where we whitewater rafted. If I were to turn around from where I'm standing as I take the picture, I'm within about 20 yards of the Continental Divide.

Our First Fourteen

We made it to the top of Pike's Peak today! It is our first "Fourteen." (A Fourteen is a summit over 14,000 feet.) It was C-O-L-D! It was 30 degrees, with a 15 degree wind chill. The wind was 25mph, but I know the gusts had to be over 40mph. When we first got up there, it was snowing! Uphill! As I looked down over one side of the summit, the wind was blowing snow directly up at me! And remember -- it's July 31!
We got to the summit of Pike's Peak (left) via the Cog Railway (right). It was a long, steep ride up the mountain - with an average grade of 16 degrees, and a maximum of 26 degrees. But it was easier than trying to drive the switchback road to the summit.

Our time with the counselor this morning was very good, and one thing we talked about is "savoring the moment," and embracing the joy. So, I'm doing just that, as you can see in the photo below.

Mid-Life Moment

Today we spent time doing our "homework" for our counseling, so we didn't venture too far from our hotel. But afterward, we went on a "cheap date" to one of our favorite haunts. But, more for my own mid-life crisis, we also went to Ferrari of Denver.

It's a Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, Lotus dealership, and I got to sit in a Ferrari! (I didn't even ask about taking it for a test drive.)

The other photos are of a Lotus and a Lamborghini (with another Ferrari in the background). Enjoy! (I did!)

Garden of the Gods

After another good session with the counselor in the morning, Karin and I headed south to Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. We were in and out of buildings and the car, avoiding the occasional rain (including a couple of thunderstorms). We did get a brief glimpse of Pike's Peak (right behind us in the photo above) while at the Garden of the Gods. We hope to go up Pike's Peak on Friday, when the weather is supposed to be nicer and the sky clearer.
After enjoying the beauty of the Garden of the Gods, and the changing colors of the sky (which made for some nice photos), we headed through Manitou Springs to the Old Colorado City, a few blocks with nice art galleries and craft shops and restaurants, etc. In spite of the rain, it was a great day.

Tomorrow we plan to have a quieter day, including an afternoon appointment with the counselor.

The Mountains At Last!

Karin and I have been pleased with our counselor for the Quiet Waters Intensive. We are talking about some good and important things. It's good for us to have a "25-year tune-up," and I would recommend to anyone that counseling can be a very good option -- especially if you begin to have marriage trouble... don't wait! Get help right away while the issues are small. Anyway, we are having some good, productive conversations.

Karin has been longing to get to the mountains (she's never been to the mountains before), so today, after our counseling session, we headed to the mountains. We went to Morrison, CO, and we got a tour of Dinosaur Ridge. We got to see and touch dinosaur bones and footprints from millions of years ago (above). We also went from there to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater (below). The red rocks are some magnificent rock formations protruding from the earth. Among the rocks, the CCC built an amphitheater (completed in 1941), where concerts are held all summer long. The season begins with an Easter sunrise service, which would be exceptionally beautiful, I'm sure.

From there we drove on part of the "Lariat Loop," through Kitridge and Evergreen, along some winding mountain roads, through rocky, craggy, valleys, and through evergreen forests. It was beautiful, and Karin enjoyed the trip.

On the way home, we drove past a little shop where I might be able to resolve any mid-life crisis I may be having! :-)

The weather has been good -- cloudy and cool, but only a few sprinkles of rain. The forecast is the same for the next two days -- the weekend looks sunny and warm. God has provided!