Opposite Ends

During our vacation to Colorado we visited and experienced some of the craziest stuff that America has to offer.  Each day it seemed like we were seeing something new.  Two days in particular illustrate this, and I felt like what I saw was, in a strange way, competing world views.

One day we travelled several hours to The Great Sand Dunes National Park.  It was amazing, and I don’t use that term lightly.  While these pictures are great, they don’t do it justice.

You know all those movies that portray the desert in which people are stumbling through in search of water?  Yeah, it was like that.  Apparently over many years, as the wind blows over the mountains, it has deposited the sand leaving these massive dunes.  It is now a National Park, run by the Department of the Interior.  I first saw it on their twitter feed, which I highly recommend as they post some beautiful pictures of our national treasures.  They do a great job of maintaining the beauty of God’s creation so that future generations will be able to enjoy it just as much as we do.

The next day, after our visit to GSDNP, we found ourselves at a rather odd, yet popular site in that part of Colorado.  It’s called Bishop’s Castle.  The only thing that makes the builder of said castle a bishop is his last name.  What he has constructed at this site is definitely something that would cause the average person to gawk.  Again, the pictures don’t do it justice.

What makes this place really strange is how anti-Government this guy is.  We read some reviews before we went that said basically to avoid looking at the guy in the eye and to stay away from any conversation about politics.  Apparently, he thinks that all government is corrupt.  Now, while I am not one of those flag waving Americans like most, I do believe that in comparison to the rest of the world, we have a good thing going.  I take pride in the things we do well as a nation, yet believe that we are not perfect and could always do better.  That should always be our goal.  To improve.

So in two days, I felt like I saw two competing views of the world.  On the one hand, I witnessed one of the most amazing parts of the natural world, what I consider creation, going back to the original story that we find in the book of beginnings, Genesis.  The next day, I saw something that was made with human hands.  I have no idea why Mr. Bishop started to build the castle.  He now uses to attract people and takes full advantage to publicize his odd views on politics.  It all felt a little Tower of Babel-like to me.  In two days, I saw a bit of what God created and a bit of what human hands could create.  Honestly, it wasn’t much of a competition.

Oh The Places You Will Go!

A quick thanks to the long departed Theodor Giesel as I use the title of his famous book for this blog post.  In reality, the last month has been an insane trip, almost as crazy as he described years ago, to some truly amazing places, both physically and spiritually.

On June 25^th, the family boarded a plane to start our eight day vacation to the Shortage Cabin outside of Westcliffe, Colorado.  I’m working on a piece in my mind to talk about the cabin.  Let’s just say, it’s amazing.  

A little secluded and quiet place that Megan’s mother family, the Shorts, have been going for about 60 years.  Hiking, exploring, and simply being together with family were just what were needed for us. It was a perfect family vacation. We are working on a return trip next summer.  More details and pictures will come in later blog posts. 

Upon returning late Wednesday night, I was bound for the Middle Tyger Salkehatchie Camp the next Saturday morning.  For a week, I worked alongside some new friends as we replaced the roof of the home we were working on.  I haven’t ‘run a roof’ in few years, so the rust was evident.  By Wednesday, my skills were up to par and I would put our team up against some of the pros that do it.  The camp itself was run by one of my best friends in the world, who happened to be my first site leader back when I was 15 and attending my first camp.  

Gilmer’s in charge of an amazing church and ran a fantastic camp.  The best part was the one night we sat around and told old stories.  I had forgotten how much Salkehatchie is a part of my life.  I told the camp that apart from meeting my wife, nothing has done more for me as a person and in my faith walk than Salkehatchie.  Having gone to 19 camps in 18 years, I’ve done Salkehatchie more summers than I haven’t.  And after this past experience and how much the kids from SAPUMC loved it, I don’t see that changing any time soon.

Coming back from Salkehatchie, I presided over a wedding renewal service for a couple who celebrated 45 years together.  The next day, we began Vacation Bible School at SAP.  I told the leaders who agreed to help that if they would do the logistics of getting everyone else working, I would basically play the MC role in the opening and closing.  I did this before I realized vacation and Salkehatchie would occur the previous two and a half weeks.  Needless to say, exhausted I was up there playing the role of the Sir Brad at our Kingdom Rock VBS.  

A few would probably tell you I was more of a court jester, but man did we have fun with it.  To see 50 or so kids laughing and dancing and screaming and singing, it was awesome and I loved every single minute of it. 

During that week and since, I have sat with a woman as her 4 year old went through a pretty crazy set of operations, presided over a funeral service with 12 people in a neighborhood clubhouse, witnessed the first sermon (which was really well done) of an individual who is trying to work out his call to ministry, visited a friend who I haven’t seen in a while and who has gone through hell and back over the last two years but who through the grace of God will continue on his journey, shared some meals and a few amazing chance encounters with more than a few faithful individuals.  Yesterday, I learned that my mother’s sister had passed away and so now it appears as if a trip to Chattanooga, TN is coming up soon.

I have caught myself thinking over the last month, “What was I thinking planning my life like this”, but the reality is, I wouldn’t change a thing.  Oh the places I’ve been. And I can’t wait to go again. Maybe after a nap or two.