The Spiritual Gift of Snow
Pastor Jason Today I have had dozens of things I wanted to do: several folks I wanted to visit, phone calls to make, projects to check on, planning and prep to keep working on, an exciting small group time this evening, even building permit to pull for my pending home renovations. But the pause button has been pushed. And not by me. Mother Nature did it.
Winter wonderlands and work schedules don’t go so well together in North Carolina. When it snow, as it has been doing for much of the day, most things are cancelled, closed and shut down. So, I’ve gotten little accomplished…at least little of what I had hoped and planned to do.
Now I can be frustrated (and I kinda am). Or I can see the snow as a gift. No, not just a free day off work kinda gift. I mean a spiritual gift…as weird as that may sound.
Think about it this way. Snow days in NC offer us an opportunity to slow down, focus only on what is necessary, and uncomplicate our lives. Because most everything is closed today, I can:
- Enjoy a simple day without the pressure of work
- Focus on things in my own life that need attention
- Catch up on personal tasks I’ve been putting off
- Practice discernment – are there things in my life to which I need to say “Yes” or “No”?
- Take time to focus on my relationship with God
The truth is, sometimes I can get so caught up in the world as it is, that I forget to live into the world that God is creating. Our world is filled with scarcity, stress, violence and fragmentation. But God is creating a world that is filled with abundance, peace, and wholeness. And a snow day like today offers me a reminder that the snowless world of yesterday is passing away. It is being washed clean with the snowy breath of God’s creative word.
Paul remind us of this truth:
I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.
If tomorrow brings another snow day, I hope you’ll follow Paul’s advice and join me in receiving the spiritual gifts that the snow has to offer.
If You Missed Sunday’s Sermon…
Read or listen to From Negative to Postive — John 1:43-51
God’s Words for This Week
Jonah 3:1-5, 10 – The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. (NRSV, v. 1-3a)
Psalm 62:5-12 – Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. (NIV, v. 5)
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 – I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. (The Message, v. 29)
Mark 1:14-20 – And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” (NRSV, v.17)
This Week at Hood
Wednesday, January 17, 6:00 pm – Choir Practice
Wednesday, January 17, 6:00 pm – Young-ish Adult Small Group
Thursday, January 18, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Pastor Jason at The Cellar for Drop-In Coffee & Conversation (108 N Wilson St)
Sunday, January 21, 11:00 am – Worship, Laity Sunday