Denver - Day 2

Day 2

We started off with a bang today or should I say bummer. I had one of the worst headaches I've had in years. It started last night before bed, but I figured going to bed would kill it. It only made it worse. After waking up, I had breakfast (wireless isn't working in the restaurant…another strike against the hotel) and popped 3 Advil. I ended up napping until 12:30 and finally it broke.

Off to Golden Colorado. I saw the Rocky Mountains…SO COOL!

I love nature! It is such a worship experience to me. Golden was a cool town! It is small, but very developed. Unfortunately the town smelled of beer due to the Coors factory being there. Buffalo Bill's grave was there. I was actually looking for Cassie Bernall's grave, but the directions I got were faulty.

I stopped for dinner at Brother's BBQ and got a half rack of ribs…woot! They were OK. Their sauces were average and they were using a dry rub on the ribs that I could taste the Celery Salt. Who puts Celery Salt on ribs??? They are "the best in Denver." I was disappointed.

I got a second wind. I was going to go home and watch 24, but I figured I would go to Columbine tonight. There would be no students there. It took me near an hour to figure out where it was (no directions), but alas I found it.

Without a doubt, it was one of the more moving moments in my life. It looks like an every day high school. It isn't as big as I thought it would be. There was a student practicing driving in the parking lot. It was eerie to see it for the first time ever. I saw the Elementary School where all students were taken to be picked up. I saw the area where Rachel Scott was shot. I saw the new library and the glass front that I remember seeing a student being pulled out of from one of its broken windows. I had a flood of emotions and memories well up inside of me. I remember hearing the news and saying over and over "This isn't right. No teenager should EVER have to go through this."

Call it weird, but I picked up a rock from the parking lot to keep as a reminder to myself. It was the testimony of two girls in the midst of a horrific tragedy that motivated me to youth ministry. I saw the impact of their faith and it blew me away. I will forever be indebted to Cassie Bernall and Rachel Scott. In their tragedy, God was given glory. They have impacted many in their deaths.

Tomorrow I will be visiting Rachel's tomb (and hopefully Cassie's if I can find it). It will be another emotional day for me.

I have run into a million English people. For some reason they all decided to come to Colorado this weekend. I have also seen two guys wearing cowboy hats with cowboy mustaches….they're freaking me out. It is such a different world out here. Everyone drives TOO SLOW