Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs. it’s beautiful; brings me joy, frustration, jealousy, and peace. Let’s find out why…the year is 2020 and the world is at a standstill. This idea of a better life for our family popped into my mind, would our family be better off in Colorado Springs? I choose Colorado Springs as we have family ties, and I’ve always enjoyed visiting. I grew up in a small town called Fredericksburg, VA (Fred Vegas had everything, state famous ice cream, the Rappahannock River, Civil War Battlefield, aggressive parents from county/rec sports, and 4 seasons. Fredericksburg was peaceful, comfortable, and safe. It was my past so of course I only remember the good stuff.

Our family was living in Southern California, I’m not a SoCal guy, in fact I very much dislike SoCal guy SoCal guy wears vests, thinks their Mexican food is the best, and earn double what’s in your bank account. Why do you have to drive a Tesla? Just a Toyota like the rest of us. The topic of moving was met with different emotions. My wife has lived in OC since she was born and the only time she was away was in Santa Barbara for college. Santa Barbara is not a real place-it’s a paradise. We were on opposite sides.

Together, we prayed, sought counsel (neutral wiser/older adults who had no skin in the game) and discussed the financials with our financial advisor…God Bless you Kenichi. There were pros and cons and neither side had an edge. 6 months later, we realized the only thing left to do was journey to the Springs. As I continue, my wife stated from the beginning, we she felt God’s call, we would move in a heartbeat.

The flight attendant closed the door and the pilot began to speak “folks the winter front has just moved into Denver It's looking like it's going to be a high of -4 when we land. This is the worst weather I’ve seen in 15 years”. My wife made sure I was aware how cold it would be in “The Springs”. It took everything in me not to tell her,,,

The Springs held up their end of the bargain. The scenery was breathtaking, the food was amazing, and the coffee was strong. We met with a family friend realtor to show us some areas (side note, she dated one of my favorite Raiders-#63 Steve WIZ Wisiniski) I was the only one impressed. Our final evening was met with the peak of the incoming blizzard. We decided to stick it out (someone didn’t want to leave) and check out Woodman Valley Chapel for Church.

When we arrived Sunday morning the temperature was now a warm -9° and the service was empty-the blizzard scared off the locals. We still managed to secure the 1^st time visitor water bottle and take advantage of 1^st time guest parking. The Pastor to our surprise was dressed like SoCal Guy…vest, long beautiful hair, and cool jeans. I thought, what kind of joke are you playing God? The pastor spoke on Marriage specifically Ephesians 5:22-23.

²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

He joked and said “Okay great, no confusion or issue here, let’s go home…there’s still more.

²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.^[a] 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 

So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

The Pastor said, what does this really mean? It means the husband gives everything he has for his wife and family. How does the wife submit? Let’s say my wife went to the Superbowl and held up a sign that said, text me and let’s go on a date. Out of her love for me, she is submitting to me only, it doesn’t mean she reports to me.

Let’s break down further…let’s say you and your wife have been praying about something for the last 6 months and you haven't gotten an answer from God. You don't know what to do, you know God will bless you if you say yes or say no. You've sought counsel from elders and friends but still no clear answer. It’s the 11^th hour and you have to make a choice, who makes the decision? We’ll, the husband does, actually the husband sacrifices his choice for his wife’s desires as he loves her, serves her, and Christ did for the Church.

I wonder what happened next? Well, the answer is yes, I kept the 1^st time visitor water bottle.

It's amazing how God works, it's amazing how God works in loving ways. For anyone consfused or doubting, God loves you and God has a plan for you, whether you believe it or feel it he has a plan and he cares.

We are currently living in beautiful Tustin… All right SoCal, I moved here in 2005, cheers to the next 20 years!

Vaya Con Dios