Rocky Mountain Climbing #14: Snow
About 10-12 years ago I was on a ski trip with a bunch of friends. It so happened we were skiing at Vail. I had just completed some back rehab and was in really excellent condition. One of the guys I went skiing with was a former ski instructor. His method of teaching me how to ski was to say: “Follow me!”
At which time he would jump off the edge of the run we were looking at and head down whooping and hollering. Each time I would do my best: “I can handle this”, look around and follow after him. I wasn’t as fast or carved as well as he did (plus he was 12 years younger that me so I didn’t have the wind to keep up) but all in all I did okay.
The first day we were skiing a really difficult area. It was very steep and was starting to get some ruts. The run next to it was even steeper and it was carved up in elephant sized moguls. I made it down the run, it wasn’t too pretty, but I made it down. We were about shot for the day, so we called it quits and headed in.
The next morning dawned Colorado blue.
Cold, crisp and clear.
As we were waiting in line we saw that the run to the side we finished up had been groomed during the night. So we headed over there to see what it was like. It was early, but the run was on the eastern edge of Vail mountain and already in the sunlight. When we got to the top of the run, we saw nothing but perfectly groomed untracked snow, not a sole person had gone down the run since it had been groomed. The run was beautifully lit with the morning sun. The run was steeper by a good amount that what I had skied on the day before, but since I am good at following instructions from a teacher, I jumped in.
I nailed the first turn and the second and only when I was out of gas about 20 turns and half way down the run did I realize I had done it. I had really skied a double black diamond run. I was fast and I didn’t miss a turn.
I don’t remember breathing.
I do remember looking up in disbelief that I had actually skied that run.
Over the next 2 days I went down this run about 10 times, never falling once, always going fast, always feeling the speed and the snow under my feet and the sheer exhilaration of LIFE.
Dean Brown is one of the real treasures I have been able to discover in my life. He is the teacher of my bible school class at FUMCR. In many ways he introduced me to the writings of William Barclay who wrote beautiful commentaries of the New Testament. Dean teaches from these writings as well as his life and is a true blessing to all that know him.
Several weeks ago he was teaching Matthew 19:28-30, where it says:
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me … for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
In the class we then began to discuss what it would be like to receive 100 times more in heaven than what we have on earth.
I thought of my ski day and tried to think how it could have been better.
There could have been 4-5 inches of new powder on the ground. I could have been a little younger and stronger. I could have worn the coolest ski gear and had the newest and hottest skis… and on and on.
With everything I could think of, well maybe I could have made the day twice as good as the day I had already had.
In no way, can I imagine what life would be like if it was 100 times better.
Can you?
In these verses are all of the pieces of hope and endurance we will ever need.
So tell me what was your best day ever.
Love, Durk
