I step down into the brisk current of the river, wondering if I will be able to stay upright while the rushing water tries to push me downstream. I’m a year older than last season, and walking on snot-covered bowling balls against the chilling current of spring runoff is not a job for amateurs or old men. Fortunately, my dog and I make it across the river without incident. I shuffle ahead and begin casting flies upstream in pursuit of the wild brown trout that inhabits the river.

A campground is a sacred place. It provides a sacred shift from the places we regularly inhabit. There is a voluntary vulnerability in camping. A campground is where we increase our exposure to the elements and refocus on the basic human experiences of shelter, fire, and food. Camping creates a container of time distinct from our regular schedules. The pace affords deeper personal and relational connection. It is a place where we choose to live closer to the earth and each other.

Inspire Ranch is a sacred place. Located near Mount Blue Sky, Inspire Ranch is the vision of Millie Cline, a woman who courageously re-risked in her second half of life to create a place for others to be inspired. The word “Inspire,” Millie shares with her effervescent passion, is the story of both the tattoo on her wrist and the story of creating a retreat center. “In-spire is to breathe in,” it is the origin story of God breathing life into humanity. “Inspire Ranch is a place to breathe—to really breathe deeply.” Millie shares her hopes for this place as a place where people come to breathe deeply, as we walk through the dense forest of towering pine and aspen trees. 

A mountain town is a sacred place. At the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park is the mountain town of Grand Lake. It sits on the banks of Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake, covering over 500 acres and reaching nearly 400 feet deep. It boasts the highest elevation yacht club in the world, and yet there is little polished about this mountain town. The one block of shops, called “The Boardwalk” by locals, is a collection of locally owned shops and diners without a single chain store or restaurant in sight.

When I think of someone who embodies this rhythm of tending, both to land and to life, I think of Helen Skiba, the renowned Colorado flower farmer behind Artemis Flower Farm. The flowers at Artemis Flower Farm are unparalleled…dainty, boasting, and colorful. Recently I took the drive to visit Helen at her farm outside Longmont. While I was technically there to pick up a dahlia tuber order (she has the best around), we both knew the real reason was to meet her almost eight-month-old baby girl. We wandered through the farm and into her cozy home tucked right on the property, where her daughter waited…another tender life being lovingly grown alongside the flowers.

Small-scale organic farming in Colorado is demanding. The arid and often unpredictable climate is the first burden, followed by the challenging economics of land, water, and living costs. It is a path only the most passionate take, and a lifestyle few stick with year after year.

A splash pad is a place for children to expend energy, parents to encourage adventure and connection, and together celebrate the coolness of water during the warmth of summer. A splash pad is a sacred place.

The Denver Botanic Gardens land began as wild prairie grasslands, became a graveyard for a new and growing city, then a botanic garden for education and enjoyment. It is a place to admire the artistry and diversity of plants. It is a place to ponder the beautiful mystery of death to life. The Denver Botanic Gardens is a sacred place.

Orchards lead us in a liturgy of presence. They beckon us to be fully awake to the seasons of life, to savor the fruits of our labor, to deepen our roots in times of stress, and to rest in God's grace. The orchard is a sacred place.

State Parks exist because of the commitment of citizens of Colorado over 60 years ago to preserve places where all people can experience our state’s natural beauty and be inspired to protect it for the future. State Parks belong to the people and the place. The State Park is a sacred place.

The pool is a place to be present and play. It is a place of risk and courage. The pool is a place for people to enjoy being together and belonging to one another. The pool is a sacred place.

Little Man Ice Cream is sweet reminder how a business can create good for both people and place. It is an ice cream shop that cultivates wonder and extends welcome for everyone. The ice cream shop is a sacred place.

The farmer’s market is more than a seasonal way of purchasing raw and prepared foods. It provides a place to cultivate an embodied connection to those who grow our food. The farmer’s market is where we learn to value the farmer and the food. The farmer’s market is a sacred place.

There are over 1,100 baseball fields in Colorado. Every school field in the city is filled every weekend of the season. These beginner ballparks share the same routines as the stadiums of high schools, colleges, and the Major League. It is a place with a different pace. It cultivates connection, conversation, and celebration. The ballpark is a sacred place.