Life...to the max!

...it's been a week already, and it's just Wednesday!!!

...taking a break

...remembering last Wednesday

...wishing I were right at this spot, just like last week

...oh well...back to work!!!  ;-)

Hallett Peak...Emerald Lake...Rocky Mountain National Park...24 Aug '11

...you can't see them...but there are two groups free climing up the face of the mountain...crazy!...one almost to the top...the other half way up...

 

...yes, we were!!!

            Just about ready to buzz out the door to do my early morning workout at Fitness19 here in Parker, CO, I checked email, because of some major Skyping I will be doing later to a meeting in the Philippines with Compassion International.  This is what I found on one of the emails (referring to our Saturday hike, pics included in here two emails ago):

            Wes and Judy, We were hiking up Ouzel Falls trail at about noon on Saturday, August 27th, and we met you coming down the trail just above Calypso Cascades.   I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure because we have not seen each other for over 20 years.   I am very sorry that I didn't recoginze you sooner and say Hello.  That was such a beautiful day to enjoy the beauty of the Rockies.   God has created a wonderful world for us to enjoy!  Thanks for sharing your photos.  Ed and Cathy

            Nice to have witnesses that we were "actually doing it."  :-)  This would have been just about the spot we spied each other.  What a kick!  And yes, we've not been in each other's presence for about 20 years (met them in Nebraska when doing some speaking years ago).

            This good couple has been on our "Monday encouragement list" for the work we do for years.  We are most grateful.  And this wild olde man stands here amazed, one more time, at the deep and faithful blessing of others in our lives over the years.  Amazing grace...if ever!!!  :-)

Now...which of you hardy souls wants to do one more hike with us yet this late summer/early fall?  We might as well make it a "trail party" before the fall/winter snows begin to blow in.

Seriously.......like, what about taking a good stroll together on Saturday, September 24...weather permitting?  At our speed you can do it.

 

...what do you hear when it's silent?

 

When I am liberated by silence,

when I am no longer involved in the measurement of life,

but to the living of it,

I can discover a form of prayer

in which there is effectively no distraction.

My whole life becomes a prayer.

The world of silence in which I am immersed

contributes to my prayer.

...Dallas Willard...

...found on the site of a new FaceBook friend...

...thank you Tim S...........!

...see it?  A dancer in the beauty and silence of yesterday's hike.  A momentary gift alighted in the midst of all the granduer that was absorbing all our senses.  Silence allows one to begin to take it all in...the small in miracles and the vistas that expand one's soul.  Yes, and...........amen...!

...a MOST welcome and amazing day!

Talk about indulgent for all five senses...!  :-)

We have had the best of days.  While some friends are sorrowing...and others wondering if the lights, and the roof, are going to stay on back east...and others are facing significant life-changing issues...this day was a welcome reprieve in a summer that has also had it's hard moments with health issues in our family.

We hiked a new trail for us.  The Ouzel Falls trail out of the Wild Basin area of Rocky Mountain National Park just north of Allenspark is flat stunning.  With the splendor of Longs Peak in full view from the south,  we did 5.4 miles of beauty (in and out...over a 1000 foot gain in elevation...and we began at over 8500 feet).  Long's Peak, by the way, is one of Colorado's 14ers.

We are home "good tired" and oh so refreshed...with grateful hearts.  Come hike with us some time...and be stunned yourself with the glory of our God's creation.  Here are six of our 134 photos from just today:

 

...today:

...take a hike

...or at least a long walk

...breath deep, exhale long

...this may be just what your own soul needs for this day

...come on, get going

...you can do it!

...and...you're welcome...........!!!

...big OOPS.......!

Hey...to those who have been trying to send anything to us via email or Facebook...personally...or organizationally.  We are now back in business in all accounts and on all fronts!

70yo men (...at least like me...) should not be left to their own divices to try and figure things out without ample and thorough internet and computer mentoring (...and, truth be known, even listening to their brilliant wife...).  "Mr. Roberts," he says to himself, "practice what you 'preach' about good life-changing, life-giving mentoring on all fronts (all 8 dimensions) of one's life."  LOL @ myself...big time.      :-)

Sincerely sorry if you've tried to send us anything in the past 48 hours and it got bounced back (...which some have let us know, thank you, sincerely...).  So...try again...and may you have a good and blessed weekend!!!

PS...many, who love me in spite of......., will be glad to know I/we will be at the Apple store on Monday afternoon for one their blessed one-to-one sessions to learn (some more, again, yet, still) what I/we need to learn!  Apple store friends...what would I/we do without you?  You're the best...........!!!

(...now...with all this finally settled out, I may even get to have a fairly good weekend with my amazing wife, exploring yet another trail up in Rocky Mountain National Park to one more amazing waterfall.  Grace reigns...and rains...thankfully...)

...last weekend's hike...just below Emerald Lake...

...amazing beauty to behold...

...indeed!!!

 

...concerning impact:

        Steve Jobs may be, for very personal reasons, changing positions within Apple, but he is an excellent study on impact...in life...in work.  I'm grabbing a few minutes between appointments, sitting with my MacBookPro in a Barnes & Noble, sipping a Mocha light at the Starbucks end of the store, checking in on email and catching up with blog feeds.

        Also...truth be known...I'm eavesdropping on a series of conversations, that, taken together, would make a good mystery novel.  :-)  But what challenged me most, at this moment in time, was FastCompany's thoughts about Jobs stepping down, while still keeping a bit of a hold on his Apple.

Job's words here are good for any and all of us...thank you Steve:

        "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle."

OK...time for a new Facebook pic!

 

Taken last Sunday on the way up to Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lakes high in Rocky Mountain National Park...oh yes!

Extra good moments for the two of us after a wild summer.

As my deep south friends would say, "Praises be.......!!!"

Fair warning...he says with a smile! :-)

            All those I'm currently mentoring...have mentored...and will be mentoring are going to be asked to read a book that is of splendid encouragement to each person I know (...and all those I don't know).  If you have not yet purchased the book...please do so at your earliest budgetary convenience.

            This is the first of several reads I'll be suggesting this fall to those I've the deep privllege of mentoring...whether near or far...Skyping or in person.  These creatively written words of wisdom will take us to new heights and greaters depths on each personal journey.  What a kick that is going to be.......!!!

            This excellent book, The Accidental Creative, is balancing on the edge of the deck of the vacation home where I was reading it this past weekend up in Estes Park (...for the third time, as I will be using it in some teaching I will be doing in coming months).  When it was time to stop for a few moments and ponder the exceptional insights and take in the encouragement to further get my own creative act together...I looked up...and what you see next is what I saw.  What a place to absorb and think and plan for the future...needful moments...for which I am most grateful as we head into the final third of 2011.

            Staring off into the horizon of one of our favorite places, Rocky Mountain National Park...watching hummingbirds flit by...having a great conversation with two chipmonks who discoverd some nuts that had been dropped on the floor...it was a part of a very good day this past Saturday.  A weekend with a F.R.E.S.H. beginning in some important directions.  But then, you'll have to read the book to find all that out for yourself...no matter where you sit and read.

            Todd Henry, the mighty fine author, is one of those "real deal" people we all enjoy having impact us.  Listen here to a recent podcast to get a sense for what he has written.  This is one of those reads that will help you grow further into all you were designed to be and do...no matter where you are on the planet...no matter your age...no matter your education, gender, ethnicity or religion...no matter what you do for that activity called work...this will encourage you forward.

It has me.

Thank you, Todd.......!!!

 

Mentoring Mondays...#29:

This summer I’ve gained some new friends.
I’ve also lost a couple of friends.
And I’ve had welcome chats with olde friends.

Gaining brings delight...adds to life.
The losing brings a lingering sadness...depletes.
Those who hang in with you are valued gifts of deep and abiding encouragement.