I heard the news the moment we arrived!  We reached South Fork a day early.  We were trying to find accommodations for the night, with no luck.  Pretty much every hotel and lodge in the small town was full.

Walt Disney is filming "The Lone Ranger" in nearby Creede.  The crew and cast are being housed in the area.  This news meant that Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, stars in the film, were somewhere in my vicinity.  For those of you who need a reminder, Johnny Depp is the despicable yet endearing pirate in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He will play the part of Tonto in "The Lone Ranger".

I knew at once that I had to tell everybody (making for a facebook post and a couple of texts).

I had to make plans too.

When are we going to Creede (the actual filming site)?

What am I going to wear when we go?

What would I say if I ran into Johnny on the streets there?

These questions filled my mind.  And that made me a little excited.

We didn't get to meet Johnny Depp or any other cast members. We did however get to walk the streets they walked.  We ate at a little cafe and heard stories from the locals about the filming.  We stalked the edge of the film set with cameras to the irritation of a security guard.

I am proud to say that we did get pictures of some of the props.  We got so close as to know some great secrets.  The train cars moved on a trailer rather than tracks. Wind in the movie is made by rather large fans and not nature. And the rocks in the train cars are NOT REAL!  And as I read online sources, I was reminded that Johnny Depp is human- he's really human.

Honestly, it was fun getting up close though not personal.  I enjoyed the pursuit of fame and power.  Over six million dollars was spent during the three weeks filming at Creede.  But I'm pretty sure the train scene will have lost some of its magic with me having seen the props; knowing the tricks.

I remember going to a Christian concert several years ago and getting to meet the one of the singers backstage.  Granted the guy was exhausted, but he was borderline cranky as we approached him from the end of the line.

 The guy was much more pleasant from a distance.

I guess that's the reality with people and even nature.  I sit here typing now thinking how Colorado is not quite as heavenly as I remember it.  My nose is dreadfully dry and stuffy.  My skin is cracked and dry. And the soles of our feet are black as soot from mountain dirt.

Even the rich and famous and the most glorious places disappoint.

Yet we chase.

I believe this chase occurs because God has placed a desire in us to pursue that which is greater.  The pursuits of the fleshly nature just never quite meet our expectations.

Just think.

What if we paid more attention to the urging of the spirit.

What if lay our heads down at night reveling in the day spent with the Almighty.

What if we woke with anticipation knowing that He who is indescribable will be walking by our side.

What if we even got up close and personal.  And we realized that He doesn't disappoint.

What if we allowed ourselves to be   .....starstruck.