Snow More, Please

The forecasts were all right. I don’t know what the exact snowfall was, but with drifting, we have some areas that exceed four feet. And to think that about half a week ago, we basically had no snow left. I have snow blown more snow in the last few days than I think I have done the last five years combined, and I’m not even done. There will be some areas that undoubtedly will not be cleared out until the Spring thaw. My first though was about Jesus asking His disciples about a blind man... “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” In Biblical times, they believed that every tragic event was caused by someone. (Actually, growing up in Papua New Guinea, the same mind-set was present.) I jokingly looked at the snow and asked my wife, “Who sinned that caused all this snow?” The truth is that bad things happen because of original sin in the world, caused by Adam and Eve. Could there be judgement in it? Possible, but unless God clearly reveals that to us, we shouldn’t be going down that road or accusing any group. Why does God allow it to happen? Maybe because we haven’t been faithfully calling on Him? Maybe He wants us to trust Him for our future and knows that, often in suffering, people turn to Him. It is frustrating that it happens at a time that shuts down most of the churches in the area, but they are God’s churches and His people. He can work out the details. We just need to be available to follow Him. I was also drawn to the passage that tells us that though our sin is as scarlet, they will be made white as snow. Note, unlike the snow outside that covers everything, God doesn’t cover our sins, He washes us and removes our sin, if we walk by faith. The snow that we have is much lighter than the snow we had several days ago which makes the areas that I have to shovel much easier to do. With this snow, I could wait until God brings out the sun and warms the weather to have it removed, or I could use the gifts and abilities - shovels, snow-blowers, and muscles, to remove it more quickly... letting God remove those areas that don’t get done. I think that sometimes we are faced with the same choices in our spiritual walk. It is good to wait on the Lord for His power and leading, but until that happens, we need to be faithfully doing what He enables us to do... love and pray. Father, as sin and the struggles of this world seem to keep piling up, help us to turn to You for forgiveness, healing, and direction. Amen