Unexpected Events?

Welp! Time to run and get bread, milk and toilet paper. A winter storm is on the horizon! Just kidding. In the olden days, we never ran to the store for food stuffs. We had shelves of canned goods and a root cellar full of fruit, potatoes, and cured pork for consumption.

Is it just me or have the seasons shifted a wee bit? I can remember winter in my growing up years was much different than now. Snow would barrel into our region in November (sometimes mid October) and would not leave till late April (sometimes early May). As a child, I would spend hours outside in April and May playing in the river of melting snow pouring off our hillside. Snowpack would often be 10-15 inches deep.

Now, we get these 'shock and awe' snow dumps; then warm weather blows in and melts the snow before another accumulation can arrive. I suppose there are ever changing cyclical patterns in weather.

Apparently, we are in a downturn of extended winter snows.

The other evening I was sifting through some old photos and happened across the one displayed. I noted our yard covered in snow and the date on the photo. (May 1961) There is a snowplow in the lower center of the picture and I'm guessing we had school that day. Well, I didn't since I was not quite 1 year old. Heavy snowfalls did not phaze drivers and give rise to one hour delays or cancellations. School and work went on just like clockwork. Obviously, biblical snowfalls would paralyze the region but for the most part, life went on like nothing unusual happened. Weather would be weather whether or not. Life went on.

More than just weather patterns have changed. Now if storm warnings are issued, a whole integrated machine churns into action to predict outcomes, responses to outcomes, and changes in schedules across the board. In the midst of all these changes in weather patterns and our response to them this scripture from Job in the Old Testament assaults our reason.

"God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love." (Job 37:5-13, NIV)

In short, there is nothing occurring on earth at any given moment that would surprise the creative God who put it all into motion. Currently, the sun is shining but tonight snow is predicted for our area. Um, okay, whatever. Tomorrow will dawn, Lord willing, and we'll get up to begin our day. Resting in the hand of God allows us to trust that whatever comes our way is not the end of the world and that God is working in all things for our good. Trust me, there is no such thing as unexpected events in God's realm.