First Full Day In Colorado

 So I've been in Colorado for about 24 hours. Today I completed all of my paperwork and got my employee pass that gives me access to the mountains and discounts around the resort. My skis also arrived today and I was determined to hit the slopes for at least a little while. So after trekking my way from the EDGE building I managed to get on one of the main lifts on the right side of Copper. It's a fairly long lift, maybe a good 8 minutes before you reach the top. My first descent was mostly blue trails and it went okay. I did learn my new skis aren't the most forgiving, I really had to fight cutting through the snow sometimes. Also on that run I somehow managed to find an area that either wasn't marked off-limits, or it just hadn't been run on enough. I dip down in this little 50 yard valley and was about to proceed the a narrow trail through the woods. The next thing I know my right ski sinks down about 2 feet into the snow and my boot pops loose from the bindings. Great...stuck in a little bowl of soft 2 feet deep snow. So I had to pop my other ski off to dig and find my buried ski, and then begin a ridiculously hard trek out of the bowl. I only had maybe 40 feet to trek uphill to safely ski out of this but it was so much easier said than done.  Every step I took I would sink down that 2 feet every time....ugh...I was exhausted by the time I got to the bottom of that run. So I went inside ordered me a burger and took a good half hour break. I got back out and took another three or four runs mostly on blues and greens just to enjoy the rides a little more and not work as hard.

So what have I learned on the slopes. Colorado skiing is much bigger in so many ways. You can't even come close to seeing all of the mountain in one run. Thee are so many routes I can't even tell which one I'm really on, I now just guess the color by the grade of the slope, and hopefully I'll end up close to where I started. Oh, and ski lifts close at 3:30

Being outside the social norm. I never realized what that old saying of "southern hospitality" really meant until now. I know I am pretty awkward socially and I don't connect with people very well at times, but this is a whole new element. For starters I don't know anybody and I still don't have a roommate. Like tonight outside the EDGE building they were grilling burgers for employees for a $1.50 each and so I figured I'd jump on the cheap dinner. Standing outside with a group of about 15 other people and just listening to their conversations really showed me what social norm I was going to be dealing with all season. I'm not one usually bothered by foul language, but then again I'm not used to hearing it come out of everyone's mouth every minute. Even full-time employees that are on the job. It's so odd, g**d*** this f*** that are completely accepted anyplace and anytime. Then it's all about the bars and the beer. Free kegs, all you can drink for 10 bucks...I don't have a problem with drinking...I have a problem when alcohol becomes a driving force in someone's life. The people that come to work here don't even consider the future, they literally live life day to day. I've only been here one day and I feel like I am way beyond my comfort zone. It's funny how when I go to the top of blood mountain I can feel so close to God as I am overwhelmed by the beauty of his creation. Then I am here at 9700 feet and I feel the farthest from my Father than I ever have.

So what does this all mean? Well, I haven't officially started my job until Monday. Hopefully I will feel a fresh sense of unity with some people as we are all working with kids and I hope and pray that the attitude of these employees is far different than the ones I have seen. If not then I know I have a few people that would love to have me back home. If getting to ski free means feeling this alone, then I'd rather trade in my skis for a plane ride home. My room is paid up through the 24th and if I still can't find some happiness in this place by then, let's just say I'll be home for Christmas.

Video Clip: Far From Home - The Classic Crime

So this was one of the songs that was on my West4Winter playlist. I've always liked this song by The Classic Crime but I don't think I ever fully got it's message until the plane ride. With this bands Christian influence it dawned on me, we all are far from home. I'll be the first to admit that the reward of eternity has little value to me as opposed to just getting to serve my maker. Heaven is just the cherry on top, it's not the best part in all reality. Yet the song really brought me back thinking despite wherever God leads me, no matter where I am, I am far from my home. The only home I was meant to be a part of at the end of all this madness.

So as I am away for what may be only a few weeks or a few months. Please don't pray for me as the greater need is for the people of this area. My cab ride here was from an older gentleman probably in his 60's and it was just him and I in a van for 2 hours. We talked a whole lot about the area, history, and he even talked a little bit about himself. One thing he said was that "life is a gamble". He went on to say how if it's your time, it's your time. A man in his 60's believes life is just a gamble. Dear God, I hope that's not all You had for us. A luck of the roll, hitting blackjack, or turning a royal flush. I still have a long way to give You everything in my life, how hard it must be to show these people that their life means nothing without the one and only savior.

- Thomas