never the same

this weekend, i sat on the grass, in a familiar park, listening to familiar John Denver 

covers, 

waving hello to old faces,

glancing every so often at the carved-out mountains 

whom i could point to by name.

but just a short 5 years ago, 

i had no familiarity with those majestic peaks.

i knew that Estes Park was a place my family gathered for reunions,

but never took the time to relish in the beauty,

knowing each peak by name,

never daring to climb to their tops.

as i sat in that park,

strains of bluegrass music floating overhead,

my gaze fixed on Long's Peak.

i couldn't help but think

that i often took for granted

these last 4 years 

that i could call Long's by name,

could identify many of the other peaks in RMNP.

these last 4 years, 

spending my summers in Estes Park and Fort Collins,

have shaped me, molded me, 

carved me up from the ground

much like the peaks i now know almost as old, familiar faces.

i can't help but wonder

what my life 

might have become

had i not become familiar

with these peaks,

climbed their rocky edges,

slept under their stars.

i can't help but think

that these peaks, too,

look at me in a new way

each time i return.

some places will never look the same, though.

Hewlett Gulch, below, was the first place Evan and I ventured to this summer

to camp and hike.

as we were descending the trail,

the Hewlett Gulch fire broke out.

thanks be to God, we were safe

and got some incredible up-close views

of the destruction

a forest fire can cause.

still,

each time i pass by Hewlett Gulch,

driving through the Poudre Canyon,

the hillside will 

turn a little red,

as a reminder of God's protection

over us

and as a flicker of a memory of adventure.