Since we had our first snow just a couple weeks ago, I am still remembering some of our other first snows, especially one in 2006 or 2007. We had found a cabin in Colorado after we could no longer go to Wanda’s cabin because she had sold it. This was sometime in the late fall and actually we were not anticipating snow…
I awake early to see a pristine, sparkly white covering the world outside our mountain cabin window. The large mountain Evergreens embrace a gleaming light snow in their arms. Not a limb or branch is moving. The world is silent and peaceful once again…a reminder of the way things used to be…at least in the beginning. The color of evergreen promises that nothing will come to us that we cannot take…as long as God is allowed control
No, I am not hallucinating, we are in a cabin called Evergreen, located high in the mountains of Colorado. We arrived in the dark last night, amid snow flakes flying over the mountain road. We made it to Woodland Park around 5:30 p.m., ran in to pick up a few groceries in Safeway, hurried back out to the car, so we could quickly drive to Divide and beyond to find the cabin. We wanted to do this before the dark ascended completely or snow covered the markers we were to locate the find the cabin.
We finally asked some young men in a dark car. They not only obliged but drove us down the road and pointed out our cabin. It was a bit of a steep climb, but finally our Impala stopped by the steps leading up to the deck. We had to turn the combination lock the right way and at first it wouldn’t cooperate. I was just about at my wit’s end but John kept trying until he showed me the key. How delightful to unlock the door and carry in our stuff into this lovely mountain cabin. John started a fire in the wood stove while I unpacked our things. Soon the crackling fire warmed our tired bones and I heated us each a cup of cocoa and a sandwich. We thankfully pulled the covers over our tired bodies while the snow flew outside the front windows of the cabin.
All was right with the world and we awoke to more beauty than a human should be allowed to absorb. We spent the day resting, talking and enjoying the loveliness of the day. Four double windows lined the front great room and we could enjoy God’s nature at its best.
As the days slipped softly by, we took a drive into Divide and Woodland Park, the two little mountain towns, and enjoy the beauty of Pikes Peak. It is definitely a regal mountain, resting in the middle of our oasis.
Early one morning, John and I got up before dawn and traversed about 22 miles to Manitou Lake where John will spend the day with his favorite hobby…fishing. The gate is still closed when we arrive and we have to wait a few minutes. A low mist floats above the water as the sky begins to be painted in the light colors of dawn. The gateman arrived and we drove in. John steps out to get his pass in the frigid morning air. He slips on all his extra clothes, picks up his fishing gear bucket and fades away into the mist. I wait a few minutes and then decided to check out how cold it was and walk to where he has stationed himself. To me, it is frightfully cold…to John…the weather is of no consequence.
I left and drove down the two lane Decker highway, back to Woodland Park. The road wound around the mountains Evergreen trees. Only an occasional vehicle broke the silence of the morning. Suddenly a bright light appeared behind the mountains in the East. The glistening sun arose to welcome the day and began to warm the domain. I rounded a curve and gasped at the sight before me.
Pike’s Peak sat off in the distance, a few low clouds drifted over her sparse snow layered peaks. A bright blue sky made the white stand out even more. Lower on the mountain, I could see the pines all nestled together in a camaraderie of trees, a true, evergreen color. Under that, some low, white clouds or mist emphasized the mountain range and blended the panorama into oblivion at the bottom. I thought about stopping to take a picture but don’t. Now I wish I had.
I drove down the county road in Woodland Park to the other side of the town to Rampart Range Road. I planned to stop at McDonalds and read the paper with my morning coffee, but it was being remodeled. I take Highway 24 on further and turn in at the Burger King. I sat down at a booth with a newspaper and enjoyed my morning cup of Java. Several older people were also congregating at the same place and I overheard them rehashing their trip to Colorado.
A young mother came in with two little children. I could certainly see she had her hands full, it wasn’t hard to read her harried face as well as her thoughts “Will my life ever slow down so I can enjoy the things I like to do/”
I felt like telling her “It will come, sooner than you think! Enjoy those little ones while they are under your care. They will grow up in a second!”
And then an older gentleman slipped in, carrying a book so he could pretend to read amid all the confusion. Only he didn’t really read but longingly watched the life going on around him.
Life had enfolded before me…the beginning and the ending, the young and the old, getting through living the best way they can.
As I drove back to pick up John and his fish, I ascertained that if a person has accepted Christ into their life, they, can get through these times in the best way possible. We can know with certainty that, with God in control, our life can be EVERGREEN, even in the state of Kansas!
By Doris Schroeder
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