Journal

by skydancemountain

Generations

Uncategorized
by Robert N. Ruesch YMCA of the Rockies has been in operation since 1907, over 100 years and a decade. During that time, generations of families, summer staff, and full-time employees have had a presence on the property. What is interesting is the continuing legacy of generation after generation that continues to create the foundation of memories here. I have been a part of the “Y” since 1950 when my father accepted a position at what was then known as Association Camp in the camp secretary’s role, as the title was known back then. He planned on not staying but a half a decade and then moving on. Three decades later, he retired from his position at what is now known as Estes Park Center. One generation. My work was…
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01Jun 2020 by skydancemountain

Out of the Fry Pan into the Blender

Encouragement
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jerimiah 29:11 “Hi, I’m Bob,” I said to my future wife’s adult, married daughter. She had her back to me with her arms crossed, looking at the flames in the fireplace. She turned around partially and said, “Yes, I know,” and looked back at the fire. Well, I thought, that is a start as the warm room took on a chill. Barbara and I had been high school sweethearts, and now, twenty-five years later, we were to be married. And I was being blended into a family of three boys at home and a married daughter who was skeptical of a…
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02Jul 2020 by skydancemountain

Timeless

Encouragement
Timeless seems to be elusive. We yearn for taking back time, knowing what we know now, but back then. We spit out angry venom words, released from a lashing tongue. And at the speed of sound, they land on other’s ears, piercing the heart, causing tears and tares in the fabric of their and our souls. Yet, in timeless habit, we again continue in the same predictable behavior, time, and time again. The human frailty that we tend to have is an Achilles heel of our behavior. Then we regret our actions, our words, the negative sequestered thoughts that we harbor. We seem to try to reach the often-lofty goals of self-improvement, wanting to be better, cleaner, pure in thought and action, only to trip and stumble once again. Crying…
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by skydancemountain
Wonders

Wonders

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Perhaps you have heard or read this story before now, but I have a different perspective to submit to you. Here goes. A teacher was asking her students to list seven wonders of the world and explain them to the class. The assignment’s goal was to help the children to recognize seven wonders, either natural or man-made of the world. There was a silence in the classroom as the students completed their answers. Each student continued to write what they felt were the correct replies to the question. Finally, time was up, and the teacher started to call on the students in the class. One student, replied, “There are natural, and man-made wonders, I could not decide what you wanted, so I wrote nothing down.” Another student was called on…
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27May 2020 by skydancemountain
Believe, Plan, Go, Do

Believe, Plan, Go, Do

Encouragement
In these times, do you feel you are at the corner of Anxiety and Confusion? You look both ways before crossing and then get hit by an airplane? Let’s face it, isolation is not people-friendly. As writers, we have practiced for a time such as this. But now that it has happened, isolation is the only choice, so it seems. Gone are the “alone” times in your favorite coffee shop, missing is gathering visual information about your next book, article, a new creative project by people watching. The strolls in shopping centers, well, when have you been able to do that lately? We are cloistered, “locked up” and worrying about friends, family, associates getting ill. Sure, video conferencing is rampant, but isn’t that one dimensional? I was talking to a…
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