We finished up our time in the Denver area by exploring the beautiful town of Golden. Nestled snug in the foothills of the Rockies, Golden has a small town charm that makes you want to stay awhile. So we did, exploring the shops and taking in the cold Colorado air. After visiting Buffalo Bill's grave on top of Lookout Mountain we met up with our dear old friend, John Carpenter. John was a part of Summon The Fleet, Corey's infamous melodic hardcore band from our Visible Music College days, so we spent the night reminiscing on the "epic days of our youth." The beauty of friends like John is that you can meet up after years apart and feel like no time has passed at all. True friendship knows no time.
We said goodbye to our Colorado home Friday afternoon on route for Fort Collins, CO. We were booked to play at The Alley Cat, an artsy coffee house that attracts students from the adjacent university. The whole place was buzzing - call it the coffee or the college kids. Corey and I couldn't help but feel old as we gazed around, commenting on how young they all looked. Age creeps up on you like that. I remember thinking I had arrived at adulthood when I turned 18… now 18 year olds look like babies… Sigh.
We played a 45 minute set before their Open Mic. Afterwards we stuck around to take in a few local acts. Open Mics are always an interesting mix - you just never know what you're gonna get when you allow the general public a microphone… Depending on the community you can count on at least one old cowboy, one retired choir director who still prefers to sing with classical vocal technique, a lead guitarist turned songwriter who really should have left singing to the vocalists and a slew of wide eyed youth playing for a crowd for the very first time. With the right group it can be a great community of support for musicians young and old. Amongst the usual suspects that night we witnessed a two piece folk band - who covered our fav Old Crow Medicine Show song - Wagon Wheel, as well as a a 90's throwback band who covered Eagle Eye Cherry (remember him? me neither - ha).
After we finished socializing we drove 40 miles north to our host home in Cheyenne, WY. Our host, Aaron was a contact from Corey's tour with Redefined in Red. He lived in a doublewide with his wife, two kids and two dogs (a basset hound and the fattest cocker spaniel I have ever seen in my life… she looked ilke and Ewok - it was unnatural!) A crowded home to be sure, but one of the sweetest families we've ever met Though he had to leave for work before the sun came up, Aaron waited for us to arrive and talked with us until well after midnight. He was an open book, sharing with us about his family, his vision for ministry and testimony upon testimony of God's goodness. He asked about our tour and offered some encouragement. It was a wonderful night of fellowship with a man that Corey had met for 20 minutes 2 years ago… What a great heart. We slept in his 11 year old daughter's room, painted bright pink and covered with stuffed animals. I'm pretty sure Corey used "Mrs. M&M" as his pillow and our comforter was a fleece blanket smattered with Disney Princesses .
The whole experience got me thinking about Martha and Mary…. We all know the story… Martha and Mary invite Jesus and his disciples into their home. Martha is busy in the kitchen, frantically preparing the meal and getting things in order. Her younger sister Mary on the other hand, is in the living room, sitting at Jesus' feet. Martha being frustrated that all the work has fallen upon her, storms into the living room and says "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! Being more of a Martha myself - I can totally see where Martha is coming from. There is so much work to be done! And lazy couch potato little sister over there is just sitting on her butt. However, rather than rebuking Mary, telling her to get her act together and be some help to her darling sister, Jesus instead rebukes Martha. "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away form her."
Corey and I have experienced a wide range of host homes. Some have pristine 3500 square foot homes with a guest suite complete with heated towels (so not making that up!) It is obvious that the host put a lot of time into making sure their home was in order before our arrival. The towels are freshly washed and folded neatly at the foot of the bed. The bathrooms have been stocked up with toilet paper and toiletries. The bed is made up with crisp linens and so many decorative pillows you're not sure you'll find a mattress underneath it all. Don't get me wrong, these homes are amazing… like staying at a resort or a bed and breakfast, However, the hosts that have the greatest impact on us are not necessarily the ones with the largest, most beautifully decorated homes, but rather the ones that choose to engage with us. Those that share their hearts and lives with us. Those people have chosen the "better" thing. Their homes may be a little worse for wear, you might have to search for a clean towel or restock the tp roll on your own. But you never have to guess for a minute what their first priority is - people. Loving people. And in a trailer park in an industrial city in Wyoming, we met one of the most loving people you'll ever meet.
It is my hope to learn from the Mary's of the world. To pause from my frantic "preparations" and choose the "better." To invest my time in the beautiful souls around me. I am sure it will make my life and heart all the richer.
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