Diversion......So Starbuck and I were on our way to enjoy a bit of peace at Lizard Lake. We began our hike at the hot laborious haul up Daniel's Hill. We only include that climb for the added exercise. I was so looking forward to sitting by Lizard Lake and just enjoying the quiet. Weelll, to my surprise, (Starbuck really didn't care), there was a backhoe up on the 4-wheel drive only road doing work just before the lake! Believe me when I say, it is a rare event to see work done on this treacherous Lead King Loop!
My first reaction was irritation. It was man-made noise after all. I go into the back country to avoid such. Starbuck and I had just paused by the river and I thought, why don't we go down there and have our snack and a sort of peace; you could still hear the backhoe. So we made our way down to a spot in which I had never been, found a large rock shaped like a seat of sorts that hung a little over the river, I secured Starbuck by me and sat down with my snack.....diversion.
The river was clear and running, making that soothing noise that rivers have made through the ages; their own music of the soul. It made the noise of the backhoe recede into the background. From my perch on the rock while eating my yogurt, I was watching this aspen tree with the few gold leaves remaining. They actually reflected the light of the sun making them glow. The breeze had each leaf quaking, shaking in a little dance individually of its own. A few would let go of their tenuous hold to the tree and drift to earth in their final stage of life, death, in a graceful and lovely ballet!......diversion.
I was still on the water. It was just God, Starbuck, and me, backhoe long forgotten. I reflected on aging and how that it is sometimes a very difficult process. I said a prayer within my heart that I, like the aspens, could reflect the light of God as they do the light of the sun. I said a prayer within my heart that even if dying became a difficult process that it would in someway be the final ballet for me.....diversion.
Alas, Starbuck and I rose to make our way up and out from the river. I continued to reflect on what I saw and prayed, moved deeply by the Holy Spirit. I thought of all those whose lives that were not, nor ever had been, easy. I thought of all those living in the wretched conditions of war and disaster. And I asked the question within my soul, can the end of life be beautiful like the aspens for all? Can dying be a ballet for all? I heard an answer in my soul, "For Me, child, it is." I began to weep.......diversion.
We are so bound to earth as humanity that we forget that the eternal plan is in the ballet of death where we then meet our maker. In the meantime, perhaps it is simply our call to reflect the light of the Son and dance in the breeze of the Holy Spirit as best we can, in whatever our circumstance.
So friend, you may set out on one trail, but never forget, there are wonderful sights and lessons in the Diversions! May we have "eyes to see and ears to hear."

Power......Our spring has been cool this year yet the runoff of the snow from the mountains was in full glory as we hiked back to the Chrystal Mill and Chrystal City. We do it every year yet I am always humbled by the power the water displays as it rushes over the rocks and edges. With friends "in the know" we saw what I have fondly named, The Secret Waterfall.
Because of the force of the water of the fall it splashed out everywhere and could not be contained. It was wild and touched everything around it creating wet places and slippery rocks. One had to step with care knowing that to slip into the frigid rushing water would not have a good outcome. Yet to stand in the presence of this fall and feel the water hitting your face and body was nothing short of Eden-like. I was filled with awe, a healthy dose of respect or should I say fear, and heart felt wonder to stand so close to such power!
I sometimes wonder, have we lost a little of what the Old Testament refers to as the "fear of God." Due to the great love of Jesus in the New Testament, do we forget, at times that, "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth...." This God holds all power and this God cannot be contained! To stand in His presence puts us on ground that is HOLY. To stand in His presence we cannot leave without some of Him splashing in our faces and upon our bodies! This can be a fearsome thing as we are made aware that this is an all powerful, all consuming God. May I not forget to know just a little of the Old Testament fear surrounded by "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The force of the water splashed out everywhere and could not be contained.......

Sanctuary.....Starbuck and I started out up the infamous Daniel's Hill to go toward the Crystal Mill. I told Jon that we were just going to hike down to some spot on the Crystal River and just sit and enjoy. However, as sometimes I tend to do, another direction "called my name." Or maybe it was just plain old curiosity. So Starbuck and I took off climbing and scrambling through a little brush. I saw a rock that was actually part of a cliff face that looked stable. So I decided to see if indeed it was stable. Stable is important when at the edge of the cliff.
Just behind the rock ledge almost growing out of it was a scrubby Colorado juniper. I thought it best to tie Starbuck there so that in her excitement she would not decide to pull us both over the ledge. I carefully found a place to sit on this rock. Starbuck was sitting behind me. The small branches of the juniper were framing me as if they were embracing me. The sun was warm on my face. The mountains across from my perch were covered in fresh snow. The river was traveling its path through the bend and into the gorge below, singing that soothing song that moving water sings. I could smell the evergreen of the juniper and I was at peace.
The moment became holy. I believe that in that moment a bit of the veil between me and eternity was lifted. I felt at one with my surroundings and more importantly, at one with my Creator. I could not utter words even in prayer that would break the sacredness of that moment. I just breathed and I just sat. I felt a very gentle breeze stir and in that moment, I felt as if the breeze was the finger of God caressing my face. On that rock, over a cliff, embraced by evergreen branches, I found sanctuary and discovered His Holiness in a moment in which I was still and I was quiet.  "Be still and know that I am God." the Psalmist

Extravagant pain........I have a friend here in Marble. I love her and I cannot comprehend just how deep that love goes. I told her that I loved her and did not know why it was such a thorough love! She told me in a whispered voice that sort of love comes from God. She is right.
She is sick, very sick. I was at her home working and visiting. I crawled into bed with her and she held my hand. We said little. Later while others were with her I decided to mop her kitchen. She has a mop but I chose to do it on my hands and knees. As I did so this ordinary act became a holy act. As I went through the motions on my knees I was aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit and I was aware of extravagant pain because of her sickness and because that pain flowed from love. I still call it extravagant pain because this sort of love was bought with an extravagant price; "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son......" Jesus experienced great suffering so that His grace and love could be ours. So to love with this kind of Godly love that comes from the very soul itself is sometimes filled with pain. Yes it is in my words, in my heart, extravagant pain because its very roots come from the extravagant love of God. the sacrifice of Jesus, and the ever "presence" of the Holy Spirit.
I have a friend here in Marble. I love her. I cannot comprehend just how deep that love goes. She told me in a whispered voice that sort of love comes from God. She is right.

The Sound of Music Trail 2015......There have been a lot of critter sightings around Marble recently. My friend has spotted three different moose. Jon saw a small bear cub which means Mama was close by. There have been lots of garbage can attacks from bears and of course there are always the usual mule deer, foxes, elk, etc.

So Jon, Starbuck and I took our annual Sound of Music Trail yesterday. We were going along when I acknowledged bear scat (poop for those not familiar with scat). It was relatively fresh but as we say not steaming which is always a relief if you know what I mean. We continued along and spotted moose scat which appeared quite old, a good sign seeing as how moose do not like dogs provoking them and can be quite mean to dog and owner. As we continued just a little further we heard a rather loud snort! All of us stopped dead in our tracks! I asked Jon if he heard the snort as well, since Starbuck and I were ahead of him. He assured us he did and he was scanning below us to see if he could see the critter making the noise. Then there was the second snort! Seeing as how I was warned by a thrashing, running, snorting black bear a couple of summers ago, I was a little concerned. So I stood a little taller and calmly spoke in the general direction of the snort and said, "We are humans and we mean you know harm. We will not bother you, please do not bother us." Thankfully, Starbuck was oblivious to all of this and did not provoke Snorter!

We continued to a spot in which we took a break and I asked Jon what did he think our snorter was: bear, moose, or elk? He said he did not know and that the snort was more or less a warning that the animal was there and for us not to invade its territory. No problem there. I asked him what would our game plan be if Snorter got irritated. He reviewed the "proper" responses: elk, hide behind a couple of trees to avoid being charged; bear, stand tall and do not run and make lots of noise; moose, get behind a clump of trees that you can circle around because moose are fast and not very nice with their hooves and of course, praying could help. Well, that was certainly comforting.....I voted bear since the bear scat was relatively fresh and it seemed as if our chance of surviving a bear over an angry moose might be 1/1000th of a chance better. Thankfully, Snorter stayed in his or her place and we made a wonderful hike and safe return home.

Life is often like a hike. You go along about your business enjoying the day when God allows a Snorter into your adventure. It is comforting to know with whom your faith lies. For if your faith is in God, no matter what confronts you, we know that the Heavenly view at the end of life's trail is breathtaking and worth the journey!!!!

Back in Marble........this morning I sat in the sanctuary of our church praying for the service that started later. I also took time to contemplate the recent loss of my father. I spoke quietly about that loss in the sacredness of the moment and in the sacredness of the place: I am less. And that is true. I am more. And that too is true. I am complete in Jesus. And that is absolutely true!

Tribute to Mother........ My Mother had the challenging task of being a caregiver. She has taken care of my Daddy who just passed away. She watched the deterioration that accompanies Alzheimer's on a daily basis. She and Daddy became inseparable as he became more and more dependent on her to hold on to his memory and his ability to do day to day activities. He would ask her if he looked good as he put on the clothes that she picked out for him the night before. He took joy from being dressed in the "pretty" things that she provided for him. He would wake up and ask, "what are we going to do today?" As long as he was able, he would help her drive verbally telling her where he saw a park or if the way was clear. But he could not remember how to get to wherever they were going.
He held his own for about three years. Then suddenly, he declined into that other world of Alzheimer's. He kept her up night and day. She tried to be as patient as possible with him. She stood her ground that she would not put him in a nursing home if there was a way around it. She was loyal to those vows, "in sickness and in health". Then he declined so rapidly that he was hospitalized. She stayed day and night by his side except when someone else could give her a break.
I arrived on a Saturday evening. In a moment of rare clarity, he recognized me. I stayed overnight with Daddy to give Mother a break. When she told him goodnight, he made a kissing motion with his lips and reached for her. She leaned down to hug him and kiss him and told him over and over that she loved him. By Monday night, he breathed his last breath upon this earth. She had stood by him. Even though her health was compromised, she was there for Daddy. She was truly in every possible meaning of the word a caregiver! She was a trooper! She showed us all true love!
So Happy Mother's Day does not seem enough! Mother, I am proud of you and I love you! So even though it seems inadequate, I wish you a very Blessed and Happy Mother's Day!