2,143 miles. That’s how far I drove last week on my adventure to seek solitude and trout in western Colorado.
“‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.'”
Matthew 4:19
It was a week of disconnecting, fishing, and thinking. A week of praying, wrestling with wind, and wrestling with emotions. A week of laughter, tears, and amazement at the sheer vastness of creation. I caught a few fish, got slightly sunburned, managed to keep all my toes despite really cold nights (by a Texan’s standards) in a tent, and learned a great deal about myself / my situation / my purpose / my God.
It’s amazing how He can reveal significant truths to us in the simplest of ways – a mountain vista, a friendly stranger, the rush of a river, a brilliant night sky that makes you feel small but never overlooked. Just being in a place that showcases God’s artistry was more refreshing than I could ever hope to put into words. My spirit was truly filled.
Now that I’m back home and clean (though I still catch the aroma of an old campfire wafting about… maybe I need another shower…) it’s time to refocus on mission work, study, rest, and my kids. At the end of this week, I’ll go pick them up and have them the entire month of June! I couldn’t be more excited to spend as much time with them as possible – especially because I do not currently get to do that as often as I want.
This week I’ll be volunteering with Palette of Purpose, an art non-profit – I’m going to help them write some business plans, proposals, and a mission statement, as well as prepare for the CALF (Children’s Art and Literacy Festival) that will be next month. This week I’ll also work with Freedom Reins Ranch in Clyde. Freedom Reins Ranch is a children’s horse ministry that uses principles of horse riding and care to teach kids about Christ, faith, and discipleship. Mike, who operates Freedom Reins with his wife, is a dear friend and spiritual mentor of mine. I couldn’t be happier to help Mike out at the ranch – and it sounds like he’s got fences to fix, stables to clean, buildings to fix-up, and plenty of other things to keep me busy and tired. Which is exactly what I want!