Learning to Listen Part IV

The next morning we left the hotel to find our perfect camping spot.  After several attempts we finally found what would be our camping spot at 11 mile Reservoir.  It was uphill from the car and far away from other campers with a nice view of the lake.  I quickly set about reading the tent and unpacking all of our gear.  It all seemed so nice, the temperature was about 85 degrees.  After setting up camp we went off to town to find some fun.  The kids loved going to Santa’s Workshop, a local theme park for kids at the base of Pike’s Peak. We found a nice restaurant called the Mason Jar, the best chicken fried steak – their claim to fame.
By the time we got back to the camp ground it was getting late and getting cold.  This was the first time we had spent much time at high altitude and didn’t realize how easily it was to get overexposed, yes we were all sunburned. But as night drew in the temperature dropped down.  I was prepared for this but my dear wife wasn’t so she ended up with my sleeping bag and long johns while I curled up with a couple a thin blankets and all my clothes on to stay warm. So in one day we have frozen and burned, the worst of both worlds.  But I do have to say that I have never seen stars so bright and clear as I did up on that mountain.
The next day we get up and have some coffee.  The kids are playing in their heavy coats with hands black from the soil.  I head down to get a shower only to find out that it is 25 cents a minute.  Well this was the first time I had seen a place where you had to pay for water, we were already paying for camping.  At this point we decided the grubby kids could go without a shower today and later they we each get a quick turn under the water to rinse the dirt off a bit.  This was the day we decided to drive up Pike’s Peak. 
At this time the road was unpaved most of the way up.  I drove our full size van up the paved part thinking this isn’t so bad.  We kept seeing little flashes of light up on the mountain in the clouds wondering what it was.  Could it be cars? No. No one would be that stupid to drive that high up.  As we pass a coffee shop and a small lake the road gets unpaved and narrows.  No shoulder, no guard rail as we climb higher and higher and the air gets thinner and I get more tense.  Did I mention that I hate heights?  The make me feel sick to my stomach sometimes. Did I mention we paid $10 to do this?

No where to turn around, not enough room in my mind for two vehicles to pass. People behind me are getting impatient.  I am thinking we are all going to die falling off this mountain to our deaths all by my own stupidity.  People pass me around blind switchbacks at high rates of speed (over 20 mph).  We are higher than the clouds .. this isn’t good. I watch as the small rocks fall over the edge of the road, thinking we are next. Thinner air equals less oxygen we equals less clarity of thought which results in near panic. About a mile from the top I see an area just big enough to execute a three point turn.  You might think so close from the top why did you turn around…because I could and would have done it sooner.  The road wasn’t getting any better.  After we turn around to head back down my wonderful wife makes the mistake of asking if I would like her to drive down. Instantly I say yes to her now petrified look.  I tell her oh by the way you can’t use the brakes too much going down as they will over heat and fail.  She obediently pumps the brakes as we make the long journey back down.  Ever so slowly, backing up traffic we finally make it back to safety.  Its at this point I lose everything in my stomach.  The kids were totally unphased by this adventure, but I think it took five years off of my life. Are we having fun yet? Oh why didn’t I listen to God? Why did I insist on having my own way. Wait there is more.  It only get worse from here.

sherman

Hebrews 14: ⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,nor be weary when reproved by him.⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.¹² Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.