Welcome to my new blog. I recently moved from Orlando, Florida where I was the pastor of
University Presbyterian Church to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where I am now pastor of
Village Seven Presbyterian Church. It is a dramatic change, to say the least. While the two churches are part of the same denomination,
the Presbyterian Church in America, they are different in size, style, and age. Yet, they share the same rich theology and heritage, as well as a passion to see God's grace proclaimed to their cities and the world.
I titled my blog "A View from 6000 Feet" because a) I am bad at thinking of titles, and b)my home in Orlando sits at a stunning 75 feet above sea level. Our new home is at 6316 feet, which is nearly has high as Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. The picture at the top of my blog was taken from Palmer Park, which is at the end of our cul-de-sac (then up about 200 feet). It shows downtown Colorado Springs with Pikes Peak (14,110 feet) in the background.
Living at high altitude offers a different perspective. On the one hand, you can see a long way. You are up above it all and can see things that those down at low altitude cannot. On the other hand, the air is thinner. So, some of my comments may reflect oxygen deprivation.
Colorado Springs is a beautiful place to live. Every morning, I see the sun shining on Pikes Peak and am held captive by its beauty. I have only been here for three weeks, but I can't imagine ever getting tired of it. We can walk out our door and go for a hike in Palmer Park (pictured above). In 10 minutes, we can be in the Garden of the Gods. In less than 20 minutes, we can be up in Cheyenne Cañon. When the snow falls, the ski slopes are only 2 hours away. It is an amazing place.
I will get to serious issues at some point, but for now, it is all about life in Colorado. I woke up this morning and it was in the high 40's. So, Tricia and I decided to go for a walk in Palmer Park. I was wearing shorts, sandals, and a sweatshirt. I was comfortable. Really. However, when we came back down from the park, I stood outside talking to our real estate agent (who is also our friend) and engineer in our yard about our drainage problem (long story). After standing there for a while, I started to get a little chilled. I don't think I have ever been cold in September (except for the AC at the UPC office). Yep, we aren't in Florida anymore!
