Five Things from Ghost Ranch

Trail wisdom, fun, unplugging, and more.

Good Friday morning! I want to welcome a new crop of readers to the Blue Room. (Here’s a post explaining the origins of the name.) 

Most of the time I write longer-form reflections, but about once a month I share a grab-bag of ideas and links. This week I’ve been in Ghost Ranch outside Abiquiu, New Mexico, leading a conference on design thinking and improvisational leadership. It’s been a full week, so here are five small tidbits. 

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I shared a few weeks ago about subsistence spirituality. I hiked up Chimney Rock this week (see above photo), and I thought the rules posted at the trailhead were pretty good advice for life, especially when in “wilderness times”:

1 Stay on marked trail.

2 Watch for loose rocks.

3 Stay back from edges.

4 Don’t throw rocks from top.

5 Drink plenty of water.

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I’m a big fan of the idea of psychological halloweenism and other ways to unfocus your brain. (h/t Traci Smith for the rec)

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Want to take a break from the internet? Here are some tips. 

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As part of our improvisation theme this week, we had an improv “jam” on the last night, featuring silly games and improv exercises. I haven’t don’t improv in a long time and felt very out of practice, but by the end I’d brushed off some of the rust, and it felt really good to laugh and be silly, and to encourage the same in others. Where have you found fun lately? Here’s some help getting in that headspace.

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I love cairns… the stacks of rocks people create on hiking trails to say “I was here.” They often pop up at the end of trails, but these wee cairns at Ghost Ranch were right smack in the middle of a very utilitarian path from my room to the dining hall. I like the idea of creating markers along everyday paths, not just at some grand destination. What ordinary moments do you want to be sure to mark right now?

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What I’m Up To

I’m preaching at Trinity Presbyterian in Herndon this Sunday at 10:15 Eastern time. Access the livestream here (we had technical difficulties last time, but all should be well this time!) And then I’ll be at First Presbyterian in Ft. Worth, Texas in person on October 16. 

I’m excited to be speaking for Myers Park Presbyterian Church’s Big Ideas for Parenting Youth on October 19. Found out more about this online event here. 

Next week in the Blue Room, I’ll be starting a three-week series with some thoughts on discernment and strategic planning. See you then!