Coloradical.

On my running route back home, I have "the hill", "death hill" and "kill me right now hill"; all of which I run in succession on my loop. They're all awful, long, steep and excruciating for the legs, the lungs, the muscles; and just about the all.

When you're running up hill in Sydney Australia, it sucks. 

When you're putting one foot slowly in front of the other in Colorado, it sucks even more. You gulp for air, and even when it enters, it doesn't satisfy. It's thin, and your lungs burn. Your usually-fit body decides to hate and fail on you, and your muscles turn to mush - just walking. 

A "quick race" up a few meters of ground, saw the both of us literally stopped and gasping for air.

Point being; this is Nebraska:

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And this is Colorado:

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Our "eight hour" promised journey took us nearly 12, and we (being me and about 12 other "young adults" from our awesome crew at church) reached Colorado frustrated, tired, hungry, excited and ready for five wonderful days of adventure; hiking, biking, eating, relaxing, crafting, listening, talking and finding what we came to pursue; stillness and solitude in this full and furious life.

There's no better place then Breckenridge Colorado to find some space, hike some hills, open the Word and seek; enjoyment from God, answers, intimacy, wisdom. Or nothing, just being. Oh, it was great.

We spent a great deal of time on the fourth of July climbing a mountain. "This is so beautiful" I said out loud, "once you get past the excruciating burning in your lungs". 

We ate lunch, exhaled, found our own space and spent a good hour and a half just being with God; finding Him in the stillness. And I wrote down three things from that hour and a half.

1. You really need to find your joy in Jesus because; nothing else lasts. And otherwise, you'll always end up disappointed, disheartened, angry and depressed.

2. The greatest tragedy is not knowing Gods love fully, and not living out of that love. And;

3. Lots of people are in long-distance relationships with God. The timing of the relationship isn't always convenient, it exists - but in many ways it's superficial. You can present to God any side of you you want, and although you miss Him; the distance diminishes intimacy. And although it's difficult, in many ways it's almost easier. For with close relationships there is no hiding. There's daily interaction, in the good and the bad, it's painful because there is baggage. But dealing with it means it's profitable baggage; as nestled in the closeness is where joy is found. 

Back to same old flat old Nebraska. Where God's still in control.