Mountains, Displacement, and Pastor "Retreats"

Several weeks ago, my buddy willed texted me with a simple request--"Call me."

Will and I have been friends for several years now--mostly riding bikes together (punishing journeys on early Saturday mornings throughout the summer) and going out with our wives. We have one of the blessed friendships that, somehow, can be maintained via texting. We are both extremely busy, driven, high-energy guys without a lot of time outside of work, family, and training. That we can be in touch with simple weekly texts is a testament to kindred spirits that value friendship but are realistic about how friendship can be exercised.

We are streaky when it comes to talking outside of training rides or the occasional beer or date-night with our wives. I hadn't talked to Will in several weeks. I called him.

He had had a ridiculously bad day at work. I was a sympathetic ear...it had been a rough couple of weeks at church. Both of us were suffocating, crawling out of our skin, a tad panicked...Biking season was over and I was in the doldrums of the post-marathon/triathlon season.

We had already begun planning an assault on Long's Peak in Colorado for next summer with our brothers, but that seemed like a long, long ways away. We needed something more immediate--a quick getaway to clear our heads and get the adrenaline moving outside of work.

So, we decided that we would go on a quick trip to CO to bag a couple of 14ers (mountain peaks at or above 14,000 feet above sea level). We decided to hit Gray's and Torrey's Peaks in the front range--a one day haul of 3,000+ vertical feet.

For the last week, I've inventoried gear, made several trips to REI, and delighted in preparing for this short trip.

Colorado has always been a place of refuge for me. I grew up making usually two trips every year to the mountains--to hike and bike in the summer; to ski in the winter. I always come home from Colorado feeling that I have my life in a little bit better perspective--as I consider the majesty of the God of heaven and earth who created the overwhelming immensity of the Rocky Mountains; as I consider my own smallness against this backdrop; as I consider that God loves me still.

I can't wait to get up into the mountains. The forecast for the top of Gray's Peak the day we are to summit is 2 degrees (that is the high). I love the idea of being challenged. I love the thoughtfulness that goes into conquering weather, logistics, altitude, and fatigue. To engage in this with a friend is a true blessing.