MIDWEEK MESSAGE – January 15, 2025
Winter can present challenges in the northern hemisphere. Most recently, the weather has brought various difficulties. The winds in LA have indeed complicated fire management. In the south, snow has fallen in unaccustomed areas, causing equipment to struggle with snow removal. Even sunny Florida is experiencing unusually cold weather.
We can complain about the weather or view it as a life metaphor. Weather happens; we can’t change it. We can try to escape it, but weather is always present no matter where we go. Depending on whether or not it aligns with our desires, we label it good or bad. But the weather is. It is not something being done to us personally; it just occurs.
The weather has been unusually cold here in Connecticut. A friend constantly complains, yet she dresses appropriately for fall instead of winter. I’ve found that the best way to embrace the cold is to dress for it. I have a long, heavy coat; although I dislike wearing it because of its weight, it keeps me warm, along with a hat, scarf, and gloves.
What if we viewed our lives like the weather? Sometimes conditions are sunny and warm, with gentle breezes—the kind of day that makes you feel that all is well with the world. However, there are times when our lives become stormy, troubling, and even disastrous. What can we do? We can complain, but I have never seen complaining solve any problem.
Or, we can ask ourselves what we can do and what we need to accept about our situation. If able, we can prepare for it and take the necessary steps to withstand the storms. One thing we can do is stay close to the God of our understanding. We can remember that the weather (our lives) will change, and as long as we do what we can and remain connected to God and one another, we will once again see clear, bright days.
Quote of the Day
“In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
Albert Camus