I don’t know about you, but I am rejoicing in this
wonderful (HOT) Summertime weather.
Yes, I know it’s rather uncomfortable at times, and it can aggravate
health issues with a number of people, but on a personal level, I really
appreciate the warmth, and the longer daylight hours of Summer.
This
is especially true in light of the last two brutal winters we have experienced
here in our area.
The very memory of the subzero temps, freezing water pipes, dead car batteries, deep snowfalls and icy conditions brings a chill to my bones! The older I get, the worse the winter conditions seem to me.
In
thinking of winter, it reminds me of an experience I had a few years ago, which
taught me an important spiritual lesson about our relationship to others.
We
had received a 12 inch snowfall which closed down I-75 and most of I-64 in
Kentucky. After the highways had
reopened, I had need to travel from Ashland to Louisville for a meeting. The scenery was breathtaking. The wet, heavy snow caused many of the
evergreen trees to bow under the load of white stuff. Several thick groves of trees that I passed looked like a picture
out of a story book.
But,
in addition to the groves of trees which looked so beautiful, I saw many trees
that stood ALONE alongside I-64.
Without the protection and support of having other trees to lean
against, many of the beautiful trees broke off and fell to the ground. This was in contrast to the trees that were
in groves. Even though they were also bent
under the blanket of the heavy white stuff, they leaned one against the
other. In those thick groves none of
the evergreens were broken down.
It caused me to think of the importance of
standing together in time of trouble.
There is strength in leaning one one another. As a pastor, I know the importance of fellowship among believers. In time of difficulty, it’s important to run
TO your church, not FROM it!
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