Occasionally, I get the opportunity to experience Colorado. Actually, I experience it every day, but there are very seldom times that I get to take it all in--just stop what I'm doing, go to the mountains, see the snow, the cute little towns, and allow the reality of my gorgeous home smack me in the face. But I got the chance to do that this weekend.
Several of us were friends with a guy named Cam when we were living in Indy. His dad owns an unbelievable, elaborate condo in Beavercreek, the resort town, just west of Vail. He and some friends came for the week, so last night Tara, Amy, Aubrea, and I made our way west. It was only supposed to take two hours to get there, but it ended up taking four. You wouldn't believe the difference in weather between Boulder (about 6000 feet) and anywhere west of Golden (about 11,000) feet. Blizzard. White outs. Traffic. And February 2 was the first day of peak ski season. So imagine that. Yes, we sat on I-70 for a very long time.
But we finally made it there. And it was amazing--exactly what I needed. This past week, well, month . . . maybe year . . . has been hard. But this week has been especially hard . . . just a lot of stressful things dumped on me . . . some expected, some very unexpected. Generally, if I begin to feel stressed, depressed, or just worn, I lock myself in my room and I don't answer the phone. I've always been that way. And that was definitely the temptation this week . . . and it was especially easy to be tempted because I have so much work to do that requires alone time. But I resisted that temptation, and I decided to go with the girls to Beavercreek. I'm learning that it's much easier for me to deal with myself alone . . . but it's so much better for me to be in community--that I actually do need people. And while I may not spill all that's going on in my life to everyone I know, it's nice just to be in the presence of others. To realize that I'm not the only one struggling. That the world doesn't revolve around me and my problems. And that God is moving, even if He's not all that real to me all the time.
We spent hours last night talking about our lives. The guys asked some very tough questions, and I was actually able to step outside of my current situation and see the way that God had been moving, though subtlely and slowly, in my life over the last year. He has taught me things. He is stretching me. And he is continuing to challenge me in new areas. I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ.
(And yes, the lodge in the photo is where we stayed!)
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