It's Not About the Weather

My sister-in-law, a St. Croix native wrapping up her last semester at Life University in Atlanta, earned her winter stripes last Tuesday night.  Jammed in with thousands of other motorists in the Metro Atlanta area - and all over Dixie - she was forced to into survival.  She explained to my wife and I that a trip to the closest gas station, that would've taken 10 minutes, ended up taking 3 hours.  And although she was able to get more than enough gas to make it home, it was a hill covered with freezing snow - that did her in.  With no possibility of a car making it up the untreated surface, she had to foot the remaining 2 miles.  Usually home at around 1 p.m., the exhausted college senior trudged in her apartment a little after 10 p.m. feeling blessed.  Many, many others in that same storm didn't make it home that evening...and were still in their cars or in a school when when we heard her account of the issue.

It's no secret that the snow didn't cripple the South.  That storm had great impact in Virginia, Maryland, New York, and throughout the Mid-West with much less tragic results.  Obviously, it was the absence of salt trucks to pre-treat the roads...the lack of plows available to shovel the snow....the little experience in driving in such conditions.  This is what caused the problems.  The weather services pretty much had it right.  And the because of the climate in those areas, budgets typically don't include funds for the necessary resources.  And frankly, storms do happen.

Here's a thought: Are you the type to get forced out of your normal (and effective) way of progress because of a storm?  Are you the person that's walking after being knocked around and shifted?  Or are you prepared?  I heard a quote today from Marv Levy that is so defining of a modern Christian.  When referring to the mental toughness it takes to play in the National Football League, he said "expect adversity, but expect to have more to over come it."  The four-time AFC Champions' words echo some familiar biblical principles.

In 2 Kings 4 a widow on the brink of starvation found months of sustenance by using one jar of oil.  Another hunger problem was handled again when Jesus used seven loaves of bread and a few fish to feed between five and fifteen thousand people.  What's the common theme?  In both situations, it appeared what was available couldn't address the need; but what was proven was that using what's available can get the job done.

Believers in Jesus Christ have more than enough to get the job done.  Part of His purpose here is in this, as John 10:10 talks about living a life of abundance.  And receiving Him automatically provides us the opportunity to meet practical needs easier and better than He did (John 14:12).  I think that the "greater" theme in the second verse mentioned has more to do with prevention of a problem then it's deliverance.  And many of us are basing our journey...putting too much emphasis on reacting to the snow, and less emphasis in preparing for the snow.

It's better to be blessed on the front end.

Peace