Good morning and happy Saturday. I am thankful that we have finally made it above freezing and snowmageddon is now behind us. Aren’t you excited that we were able to beat the snowfall record that stood for over 100 years? Nope, me either. I would prefer a temperature range of 55 to 85 year-round. I could survive by simply looking at pictures of snow on the internet or purchasing a snow globe. However, there are others that like this type of weather. I hope they are enjoying it. The rest of us will pray for your sanity.
On Thursday evening, Michelle and I were enjoying the warmth of our own home and relishing the notion that we did not have to get out in the cold and the snow. But that state of bliss came to an end with a phone call. A friend who shall remain nameless due to privacy issues (witness protection, identity theft or possibly just embarrassment) had fallen down the steps and hurt her ankle. She called because she was hurt and needed some help. So, overcoming my disdain for cold and snow, we immediately got ready and drove over there. Once there, it seemed prudent to have a doctor examine it to make sure it wasn’t broken. Remembering that I could still use a snow shovel (a task I had sought to forget when I moved to a maintenance provided place), I cleared a path so we could get her to the car. Thankful that there are now urgent cares and community hospitals located almost as numerous as McDonald’s, we drove straight to the nearest one. However, when we got there, the parking lot was empty. I noticed a sign on the door, so we drove up close to read it. What it said was almost comical. The sign informed us that due to the inclement weather and the slick road conditions, the urgent care was closed. It listed the address of the main hospital to go to in case you needed care. Isn’t that a bit ironic? It is too dangerous for them to be out, so they direct you to drive further to another location. Maybe patients extracted from car accidents have higher billable hours? Anyway, we went a couple of blocks to the next urgent care that we knew of. Fortunately, they were open and had a steady stream of people coming in to have things looked at from falling down. Fortunately, all we ended up with was a sprain and the community hospital was very efficient in dealing with their caseload.
As I thought about it, it struck me as odd that the first location was closed due to the weather conditions. Seriously, with all of the people seeking care due to falls and other things, that is the time that it needed to be open. Can you imagine having a house fire, calling the fire department, and them telling you they don’t want to take their million-dollar trucks out on the slick roads? Or an ambulance? The nanosecond someone loses power at their house they are contacting the utility to get it fixed. I know that sometimes it seems like it takes a long time, but their jobs are not easy, and it stinks working in the nasty weather. Can you imagine the uproar if the utility company told you they would wait until spring to get to the powerlines?
All of this leads me to wonder about us. It can be easy to help others out when it is convenient for us. But what about when you are busy? What if you already have something planned? For the most part, it is easy to say a pray for someone, to ask God to help them. But what about taking the time to be the hands and feet of Jesus here on this earth? That is actually where it gets more challenging. Someone gets a long-term illness, a neighbor loses a loved one, a friend is going through a difficult time, a stranger needs help with something, the list could go on and on. Do we view those type of situation as opportunities to be like Jesus or as obstacles to keep us from doing other things? Are we available when people may need us the most?
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? (James 2:14-20, CSB)
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
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