The winters of the late 70's are unforgettable. We would be snowed in for three and four days at a time... and we had tractors to plow out. It was before home snow blowers commonplace. It was during the beginning of the rise of snowmobiles as a popular recreational vehicle, but few people had them in Illinois.
Weather radar did not even begin to become the norm until between 1980 and 2000, as the science became more sophisticated. In the 70's. it felt as if we were at the mercy of the weather.
Today, with inclimate weather sweeping the nation... including our area... I find myself very grateful for weather radar that allows us to make good, informed decisions to go out or stay home. It isn't always accurate in the long range, but we can literally see a storm front seem to pause or move with unpredicted speed. Radar is not perfect but good. It is a warning and calls for us to make wise choices. Some do. Some don't.
Let's face it. Weather is moody and complicated. We live in tornado alley in Illinois, so we are very grateful for radar in the fall and spring when it seems tornado activity is more likely. In the winter, I forget to be grateful for the way it helps us make informed decisions on travel and activities. Mostly, I'm just checking to see if it might interrupt my personal plans. That is the truth of it.
What a scientific wonder it is that we an not just able to predict the weather, but we can literally see it develop and move. Wouldn't our great grandparents be amazed with a tool we find commonplace?
Perhaps, such scientific knowledge makes us less tolerant of the storms of life we don't see coming. We are less experienced at dealing with unexpected storms, because we often see them coming... on the radar screens... when they are weather related. We all have personal storms in our lives. Illness, house fires, job loss, death of a parent, child,sibling or friend ... or even relationship storms. I wonder if we... as humans... are less prepared than we were 100 years ago to manage the tough stuff because we are out of practice when it comes to dealing with the unexpected?
I am grateful that we have a God who is bigger than the storms of life and a Savior who is closer than a brother. The Holy Spirit is ready and waiting for us to invite him in to be our comforter as we go through the unpredictable storms of life.
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.-John 14:26-27
We are never alone in the unexpected storms of life when they come. We can "be still and know" that the great I AM does not abandon his children, even when the storms come. Life has enough of the unpredictable. The gift of peace of mind and heart is a gift the world cannot give. Is is a gift that thieves cannot steal and moths, mold and rust cannot destroy. His peace is the best.
Because life has enough storms... I am grateful that weather radar can help us prepare for a winter storm.
Today, I am grateful for weather radar
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