Life...to the max!

Catching up: Life By Design--157/207

Friday: 7June13--why we do what we do.

        All week long, and again tomorrow, I've been heavily reminded of why we do what we do with mentoring the whole person.  This is about passing it on and paying it forward with regard to the Circle of Life Mentoring Model.

        The Circle of Life Mentoring Model is not a formula or a system, but a way of thinking about oneself and others.  To see this lived out in father/son or mother/daughter, or mentor/mentoree relationships delights and encourages the work that is currently being done.  What hope.

The week began here in Rocky Mountain National Park.

And, no, this is not Justin Bieber.  :-)

Down in Crested Butte and Lake City, mid week, this dad/son duo decided to climb Handies Peak yesterday before they returned back to Denver.  Handies is one of the 54 14ers here in Colorado @ 14,048.  The trail begins from the American Basin on the Alpine Loop out of Lake City, one of the more spectacular drives (all 4wheel) in the world.

Oops.  Hey Dad!  I think we are off the trail.

What does that sign say behind you?

Ah, son, I think we missed the trail due to the snow.

With Flordian fortitude, they made it to the top.

An amazing accomplishment, despite the odds.

Congratulations, men!!!

Returning from taking them to DIA this morning, I found this.  As is our hope, when we remember, we like the amazing souls we have the privilege of hosting to sign our guest book.  This is what these two good men left behind.

Any other good souls want to come and visit?

There is more adventure to come tomorrow.

 

Catching up: Life By Design--157/208

Thursday:  6June13--Words.  Life givers.  Life takers.

        This was a fairly good day in all ways.

        Deep and meaningful times of mentoring via Skype and in person.  What an honor to walk with people into their futures.  For some, things are certain.  For others, shaky.  All, for some unknown reason, mentioned words previously spoken to them and how it had helped them form a good opinion or make a correct decision for their lives.  Amazed.  Grateful.

        One conversation was with a good man I’ve not had verbal touch with in years.  He and his family used to live here in the Denver area, then they were led to move clear to the east coast.  He had emailed asking for some time, as he had a very important decision to make very soon.

        Today, on our Skype time, he began with words similar to this:  “Wes do you remember the lunch we had at Red Robin before we took off for here?  The words you spoke to me then have helped me over these nine years.  I know have another big decision to make and wanted to run it by you.”

        An internal though was, “Oh.  What did I say then that was such an important part of a huge decision?  Listen well, Wes, this is crucial for this man and his family.”

        None of us know the power of our words.  None of us.

        We can be suspicious.  We may even own when we know our words are going to hurt.  We certainly know when words hurt or encourage us.  What power there is in words.

        Some times words have no sound, are not spoken.  But attitudes and actions still cause words to form in our mind, our soul, and for better and/or for worse.

        Yes, we think in concepts and feelings.  However, words are the defining objects that determine thinking and feeling and actions and relationships, both healthy and not so healthy. 

        How many ways can you imagine your name (someone once said our name is the word we like to hear most) being spoken for the good.  Or spoken for the not so good.

        Remember the times that words flew out of your mouth and you wish you had kept them to yourself?

        Or you’ve been on the hard end of angry words coming your way?

        Or someone speaks some words to you and you dissolve in gratitude for what was said is exactly what you needed to hear at that very moment in eternal time?

        Or you even spoke holy, apt , needed words to another?

        Today has set me up, one more time, to be life-giving careful with how I use words, spoken or written.  To be life-giving forgiving when someone’s words are not what was needed for my own life.

Words.

Use them well to bring down glory and blessing.

 

Catching up: Life By Design--156/209

Wednesday:  5June13--what’s a heart worth, anyway?

.......this was last night's sunset.......

        It’s been a day off.  Intentionally.

        It’s been a day of also a little play.

        It’s been a day of checking in on both who and what I am, and am becoming.  It’s been a sincerely intriguing day.

        It’s been a good morning of reflecting.  An afternoon of tests on my heart.  A whole day of quiet, yet intentional searching of my whole heart, in my interior world: spiritually, emotionally.

        The heart tests were fascinating.  During one of them I was radioactive for a few minutes.  Not sure if I glowed in the dark, or not, but the hardest past was lying so still while machines circled around me, zoomed in on me, imaging-wise, looked at my “ticker” from every possible direction.  I even took a nap during the first test, which the assistant said people rarely do.

        The outcomes will not be known for a few days.

        We concluded the day by having a tasty dinner at a favorite restaurant.  Getting some frozen yogurt on the way home.  That aded up to a more than OK 71st birthday.  It was simply the best to just be with Judy, one of our God’s most grace-filled gifts in my life.

        Trusting that some intentional vagueness is acceptable, during the times of reflection, I revisited a growing series of thoughts that have been building over the past few weeks, even months.  On the plus side, some truly remarkable circumstances are forming.  But on the minus side, I’m beginning to realize that I’ve also been dealing with a significant series of losses from the past years.

        Not to totally self diagnose, but I suspect the losses are creating a sense of grief that is compounding the physical that is having me feel lousy.  That thought emerged on heart test #2, as I had to lay there very uncomfortable for 17 minutes.

        How, exactly, that metaphorical moment cracked open that thought I’m still curious.  But it seems right to go with it for awhile.  Huh.  Unattended grief, over losses large and small. 

        My guess is we all have them.  Losses.  A further guess is that we all have fairly sophisticated ways of ignoring them in the bustle of our lives.  We can’t avoid them.  Something will come up tomorrow beside the sun (thank you, Annie!) to have us feeling orphaned from ourselves.

        The sense of some losses will never fade.  It’s true.  Huge loss.  Even the little ones are true.

Grief is a reality.

What do you need to be doing about it?

Grief happens.

Even acknowledging that much begins to help.

Welcome?   No.

Part of life?   Yes.

Informative?   Very.

Necessary?   Evidently.

Avoidable?   No.

Important to experience?   Yes.

Is God there in it?   Absolutely.

        PS:  We watched Finding Forrester to fully conclude the day.  Oh, whoa.  Whew.  Wept.  Encouraged.  Have had the DVD from a friend for a few weeks.  Quietly amazing how this was the night, by divine appointment, to watch it.  It’s worth your watch as well.  One of my favorite films.

Catching up: Life By Design--155/210

Tuesday: 3June13--something is being sifted.

        One time, years back in the 70s, when my aging parents were both still alive, we were visiting and overheard some of their conversation.  It was a bit startling what we were hearing about the mess some people’s lives were in, assuming they were talking about some of their neighbors.

        The tales they told were over the top.  Some of the circumstances were more that I could imagine my parents talking about. They were even taking sides, for and against, these people.

        Then, my wife, who is fairly good at figuring things out, started to laugh.   OK.  What was so funny?  She figured out that they were talking about the characters of a soap opera they watched daily.   We both laughed, for the talk was as if these people were for real next door, down the street, or across the park.

        Such were the days of their lives, which was also the name of the TV serial.  The opening line of the show was something like, “As the sand passes through an hour glass, so are the days of our lives.”

        An hour glass empties out from top to bottom, you turn it over and begin again.  With slight truth there, what a boring existence, comparing life to sand passing through an hour glass.

        However, another form of sifting is crucial to cleaning up our lives, if I may stretch the metaphor just a bit.  Not the turn it over, drain, turn it over, drain, turn it over, drain kind of sifting.   But the intentional, let’s see what’s there, picking out the non-sand, leaving the fine sand for it’s intended purpose.

        Such have been these days of not feeling my best physically.  The pain of my foot and leg (not near the intensity of pain I know others qre going through) is persistent enough to be unnerving.  The unease within my whole physical system is curious.   What’s up?

        Tomorrow I go for some tests on my heart to see if anything is amiss there.  It is going to be a three hour series of looking at the physical heart and the impact on the rest of my body.  I plan now to use that time to focus on my spiritual/emotional heart, as well.

        Even as I get ready for those tests (no coffee after midnight, etc.) I am beginning to wonder just what our God is longing to sift within my soul.  What doesn’t belong there?  What do I need to let go of?   What needs to remain?  What needs to be added in, no matter what the test may, or may not, show?

        What’s up?   And not just what’s up with the docs, but what’s up Wes?

There is a sifting going on.

Lord, help me not to resist it.

Amen.

 

Catching up: Life By Design--154/211

Monday:  3June13--escaped to Rocky Mountain National Park

        Gentle warning!  This is long, but good to read...........

        Several months ago a fine man, a vibrant father called and asked if I could help him out.  The request was easy to say "Yes!" to.  He is another of those exceptional leaders I've met and mentored over the years from meeting him at the DCW/SCORRE Conference, thirteen years ago in Buena Vista.  What a rare gem of a man, husband, dad, pastor he is.  He is easily one of those excellent reasons why I love what I get to do in this life!

        He and his precious wife have three sons: 15, 13, 9.  On each one's 13th birthday they get to choose where they will spend a week with their dad.  The older son chose hiking the southern part of the Appalachian Trial from the GA/NC border north for a few days.

        The middle son chose the Rockies.  They arrived last night.  Early this moring we took off for Rocky Mountain National Park for the day, getting into the park early enough to get all the way up to Bear Lake.

        They took off for Emerald Lake, which the rangers said they had not yet been to because of deep snow on the trail.  But they didn't know these two active men: one 44, one 13.  Besides, they were on a life quest of magnitude.  There was life to celebrate!

We parked the van in the parking lot across from the ranger station.

Saw them off at the trailhead, my boot and I.

        Created an office in the back of the van and wrote on the mentoring project for four thoroughly wonderful hours.  The weather was stunning.  The time for me was more than worth it.  Crazy, this life I get to live.  lol

        Then I learned these two men somehow made it all the way up to Emerald Lake., still completely frozen over.  Really crazy.  Totally good.  Beautiful pic the dad took, looking across the lake to Hallett Peak.  This is one of my favorite hikes on the planet.  Can't believe they made it.  Just a tad bit of envy to swallow.  lol

        We then drove down to Sprague Lake for a tasty lunch that Judy had prepared.  On our "Tour of RMNP" this is our usual lunch spot, after hiking to Emerald. 

        There is a mile long path around this small lake that looks back up to Hallett from the far end.  It is there, and many know whom I've taken up there, that there exists one of five sacred spaces I've claimed in the park.

        Important conversations always seem to take place sitting among these rocks.  Sacred, delight-filled, some frightening, holy moments have never failed to be experienced.  Over the years I've been here at all hours of the day and night and in all seasons.  Memories abound as significant people are doing deep work from their souls out.

        Yes.  I did get to the back side of Sprague.  All on the knee scooter.  Half mile in.  Half mile out.  Was totally worth the workout.  Especially to be there with these two special friends.  Cherished moments I'll long remember from our conversation across three generations on that bench in the foreground.  Those familiar with the Three 3rds of the Circle of Life.....we were the picture of those 3rds on this day: 13, 44, 70.

        We then drove to the top of Trail Ridge Road to the Alpine Center.  It snowed for about ten minutes as a storm whipped through.  These Floridian friends went nuts, as did a whole family from India.  The rangers and I just smiled and shook our heads.  Can still chuckle a bit over that.  Great fun.

        The storm was truly beautiful to watch.  What power and glory.  Breath taking, and not just from the 12,183 altitude.  It was an added gift to a very good day.  But, time to head back down to Estes Park and home.  These two men are headed for Crested Butte tomorrow for three days.

        .......then there's the Estes Park Municiple Golf Course as we are leaving town.  Herds of wild elk winter in the park, and in Estes.  Frankly, they think they own the place.  Since their ancestors were there before we people, in a way they do own the place.  :-)

        This was a wild sight watching golfers putt just yards from the hole, and grazing and resting elk.  See the two golf balls?  I counted over 80 elk lazing around on the greens.

        What a wild, fulfilling, life-giving day.  Needed by each one of us.  Was extra good to be up in our amazing outdoors of Colorado with these two good men.

 

Catching up: Life By Design--153/212

Sunday:  2June13--what's Bugs Bunny got to do with it?

        Yesterday it was soulishly important to muster the momentum to do 4pm church.  Glad we did.  Phil Vaughn was again exceptional in his real-world words to us. Never thought about losing Jesus.  Watch/listen here.

        So, what to do?  Even though not feeling all that great, I had to get up and get out.  I can feel blah anywhere.

        Found some unique "medicine" to partake of.  No matter what, one can still choose to be spontaneous.  This precious woman I'm married to and I took off for down town Denver.  Why not!?!

        Little did I know that when I signed on to yesterdays blot post I used the olde phrase from way back in the days of cartoons...what's up Doc?  Well, off handed phrases can come to life.  It was very good medicine.

        Who knew that Bugs was in town to conduct the Colorado Symphony?  Warner Bros. and affiliates have produced a really fun experience via all the olde cartoon characters.  An amazing show, actually.  And our first rate symphony seemed to enjoy doing the performance.

        Boetcher Concert Hall was packed with families.  I don't know what was the better music.  The symphony or the multiple giggles and laughs of the kids, and the "older kids," like us.

        What I didn't know was that all the major movie studios of yore all had full symphony orchestras.  And the over 2000 seven minute Bugs cartoons all had classical music supporting the visual antics.

        After the concert we strolled (I rolled on my knee scooter since my right foot is once more in a boot) down to Larimer Square to observe the annual Street Chalk Art Festival.  Hard to believe that for three days chalk artists spend their time creating masterpieces on the blocked off streets, then it's a gone over night.  A bit like life.  Here, moments gone before we know it.

 

Yup.  The asphalt was the canvas.  Temporary beauty to enjoy for a moment

        What began as a dulled out weekend ended more encouraged.  Still hurting some, but bearable.  Needed rest.  Welcome renewal inside and out.  Losing Jesus yesterday.  Smiling at giggles today.  Appreciating amazing creativity.  Picking up guests at DIA.  What all will this next week bring?

 

Catching up: Life By Design--152/213

Saturday:  1June13--MMMmmmmmmm...what's up, Doc?

        Spring allergies?  Over done?  Out of gas?

        A little concerned with how I've been feeling the past few weeks.  Unusual for me to sleep a lot during the day, as I've done this day.  Way unusual.

        Trying to not let my mind wander.  Focusing on relaxing and being quiet.  Strange Saturday, when so much needed to be done.  Owning, that for the moment, I'm done in.  Not complaining, but ugh!

        This picture is just about how I feel at the moment as this day comes to an end.  Hoping for a better tomorrow.  Longing for being out from under whatever is going on.  Curious.  Submitting to the inner care of the One Who formed me.

        Tonight the soul is more at peace.  Finally.  Thankfully.

 

Catching up: Life By Design--151/214

Friday:  31May13

OK!

Who stole May?!?

        As I do the end of every month, there is time taken to do an audit of the past days in every one of the 8 dimensions of the Circle of Life.  At the end of this month there are more loose ends than I like. The extremes of this month have been just a bit wearying, if I dare to be honest with myself.

So...........in the morning?

Hello June '13!

I am wondering what these next 30 days will bring.

This I do know, my hope is not dimmed.......!

 

 

Catching up: Life By Design--150/215

Thursday:  30May13--what is on our front porch? 

        OK.  So I get up to go out to get the Thursday morning paper, and there is a sack of what?  Strange.....but true.

        As a sign of the times, I'm cautious.  I don't think we've riled up any neighbors. There may be a few people on the planet who are not fond of me, but my guess is it isn't from them, either.

        So...........who?

        Even what is it?

        I cautiously got a hoe out of the garage, went forward like I've seem 'em do in movies where the bomb squad was called out.  Cautiously lifted it up.  It clinked.  No explosion.

        What in the world?  Just left on our doorstep?!!!?

        Looking closer.  Well, thank you.  Whomever.

        I think you may have had the wrong house or address.  For it was a sack of Coors beer bottles.  Empty.  Somebody must like "Colorado Coolaid," what some of the locals call Coors.  I don't.

        Preferred by this olde man, when when/if this beverage is on order, is Boddington's, Paulaner or Widmer Hef, or Black Butte.  So I know it wasn't us.  lol

        But, is was amazing just how cautiously I approached this sack of bottles.  One never knows these days.  I didn't want us to be on the evening news.  Crazy world we live in.

        This early morning surprise went into the trash for the Monday morning pickup.  The neighbors wondered what I was doing "hoeing" the frontporch.  An interesting beginning to this Thursday, for sure.

 

 

Catching up: Life By Design--149/216

Wednesday:  29May13--wondering...........

Looking forward to the future?  Check!

Full of more ideas than can be expressed?  Check!

Welcoming working on the Circle of Life Project?  Check!

Feeling lousy physically?  Check!

This picture defines my energy level today.  Ugh!

Taking deep breaths.  Listening.  Waiting.