Come Away

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
-Mark 6:30-32 (NRSV)

Of course, v. 33 says that the many who were coming and going manage to findJesus and the apostles in their deserted place. Nevertheless, I am responding to the invitation to "Come away" to the wilderness, another translation of "deserted place" by spending a week at Ring Lake Ranch, an ecumenical retreat center about 12 miles east of Dubois (www.ringlake.org).

It is Monday, August 20, 2012. I have been here since Wednesday, August 15, for four days with Dan and then until August 22 with Margaret Babcock and Brenda Baalhorn, two colleagues from Casper. I am here to prepare for the sabbatical that officially begins October 1.

Ring Lake Ranch is a fitting space to prepare for my discovery of the importance of place and an exploration of spiritual geography. Situated in a valley in the Wind River mountains, there are petroglyphs on the ranch property that mark this site as sacred to the Sheepeaters, ancestors of the Shoshones.

This is my fourth visit to the Ranch in three years, and the first time I have been able to stay for more than a few days. There is an ever changing community of people from all over the country and, I suppose, the world who come to hike, fish, horseback ride, interact with speakers on a number of topics, and just be in creation.

For me, it takes only a day or two here to disconnect, slow down, and rest in who God created me to be (that was the topic last week). As my sabbatical approaches, it is an important stop for me.

This time at Ring Lake is also a part of the sabbatical since the "plan" includes time for Dan and me to spend time together exploring Wyoming, a place we have come to love (well, Dan loved it before he even saw it; I came to my love a bit more gradually). Ring Lake was the right place to begin.

As we left Casper and all our responsibilities behind, we became more responsive to each other. We quickly became aware of what we enjoyed about each other and how little time we really spend together.

Along with a group of ten, we took a day long hike to Lake Louise. It was the longest hike I had ever taken. And even though I fell down and skinned my knee, I never whined. Lake Louise is a glacial lake three miles and 1000 feet in elevation from the Fitzpatrick Wilderness Trail Head, about three miles from the ranch. The elevation at Lake Louise is 8300 feet. We hiked through mossy aspen and pine forests, by rushing streams, and over granite.

Here we are at Lake Louise. Note the glacier just above my head.





Here is the view from Cabin 6 where Brenda and I stayed.






I had too much to do when I returned to even get this posted. The many coming and going managed to find me. Now I have met my friends in New Hampshire. The official beginning of the sabbatical isn't far now.


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Location:County Road 411,Dubois,United States