Thank you, Jesus. I know that we need the snow and cold temperatures occasionally. I know it helps control certain insect populations and benefits nature in ways that I do not understand. I also know that it disrupts certain things that I prefer not to be disrupted.
I remember as a youngster we had a brutal snow storm. We had about 18 inches of snow and it shut everything down. We had no electricity-hence no heat. No school, no problem. The snow lingered for over a week, but it wasn't as brutally cold as last week. I had a blast. We rode sleds down streets and down the sides of hills. My mother pushed us outside just to get rid of us for a while. I had a blast.
But that was about 60 years ago. It's not fun anymore. I used to bounce when I fell, or it didn't hurt because I didn't weight enough to dent the snow when I fell. Now, I weigh more and I can promise you that I don't bounce any more. I do lay there and wait for help to come and rest in the knowledge that the swelling won't be too bad because I'm already laying on ice.
In the old days I didn't have to worry about driving in snow and on ice, and I
don't now, I just stay home.
My fears and concerns are related to safety. I have fallen a few times. It's been a few years, and I do not want to experience another one. My fear is an injury. An injury to Sue, a family member, church member, friend, and yes, me.
It can happen anywhere. I have crashed on the steps at the house on Braden, at the bottom of the ramp in Sperry, and in the parking lot at Belview. Every time I thought I was safe and had made it past the 'worst of it'. Wrong.
This is what I think about when I have to make a decision about services when we have dangerous conditions, not me falling—but you are falling. I usually 'err' on the side of caution, or safety, as I chose to call it. It's not 1967 or 68 anymore, and I'm not 14 anymore, and I am not in the minority.
The last thing I want to do is cancel services, and I thank God that we have the equipment and people that have the ability to make it all work. I thank God that in a bind we can 'broadcast' most of our services from home. And I thank God every time that we thaw out that we have been protected by Him and we are still safe and whole.
It's currently 53 degrees outside (Tuesday afternoon). Soooo, we look forward to seeing you Sunday. Be safe coming and let's pack the house for our Savior.