Hi everyone,
This snow… am I right? While it’s not super rare that we get snow this late in the year, it sure is unusual. And not only is it unusual, it’s not exactly welcomed by most people (who have to drive, at least). But we got through it, the sun is out, and it seems like the snow is melting super fast (and hopefully won’t freeze overnight and cause a whole bunch of other problems).
I had a huge issue this morning as I was trying to come to church though. As you might know, I’m not bad at snow driving. I’ve done my fair share of driving in the snow so it doesn’t really bother or intimidate me. So when I left this morning, I figured that I just need to get out of the alley and the main roads would be plowed enough for me to get to where I need to get.
Well, I was wrong.
I drove out of the garage and was almost immediately stuck. It wasn’t because of traction or anything, but because my car is just too low to the ground and the snow was too high from the ground. So I guess it actually was a traction thing, in that my tires couldn’t really touch the road anymore to move the car.
But… I was sure that I could make it to church in my own car. I had to concede that the snow defeated me, get my car back in the garage, and take the van (which of course has a high clearance than my car… and also AWD).
I tell ya, that was a tough pill to swallow, to admit defeat, to humble myself and my pride in snow driving, and to unlearn what I’ve taught myself so much over the past 30 some odd years of driving. But facts are facts and the snow is the snow. I can’t change that no matter how much I would like to.
Here are the readings for next week:
Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm 121
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
John 3:1-17
These readings give us a glimpse of new starts, so to speak. We have Abram moving to a new land, Paul telling the Romans to look at Abraham (nee Abram) as an example when he moved to a new land, and Nicodemus being taught what it means to be born again. These new starts teach us to unlearn and relearn through humility and reliance on faith.
This isn’t easy. It isn’t easy to change. It isn’t easy to admit where we need to change and concede to it.
But the good news is that it isn’t just change for the sake of change, but it is change for the better. We are led on journeys of ups and downs and the destination is promised to be a place that is more full, more alive, and more eye-opening to what God has in store for us. We are led by faith to confidently travel this road, and travel it together.
I know, it’s still not easy. We like what we like and we’re comfortable where we’re comfortable. But God doesn’t leave us alone to journey this ourselves, but surrounds us with the support of our community, our faith, and God’s own love and promises.
May this Lenten journey be full of new insights and good changes for us and those around us! Thanks be to God!
Have a great week, everyone!
Picture taken by Pastor Nathan of his own personal (very nonfunctional) snow plow