I am sitting in my reading chair as I write this. I have been praying and studying in preparation for Sunday’s sermon. I am listening to instrumental Christmas music, drinking a cup of coffee and looking out the back window. The sun is coming up and turning the morning sky a mixture of blue, white, pink, and orange. The temperature is mild and it’s a beautiful morning.
I also know that a winter storm is on it’s way. The temp has already hit it’s high and will begin to drop. It’ll get bitterly cold and tomorrow the rain and sleet is supposed to hit. It will be cold and miserable. Certainly a good time to stay inside. Unfortunately life goes on, even in the midst of a winter storm. I will undoubtedly have to get out in it as will most everyone else. I’m not looking forward to that.
However, even in the midst of the danger and misery of a winter storm there is beauty. The weather man (if he can be trusted) says we may get 3 to 6 inches of snow on top of the ice. That means the kids could get out of school. If that happens they’ll be getting their sleds out and looking for hills and thrills (and there are plenty of those here in the Ozarks).
Our little corner of the world will be transformed into a winter wonderland. My family will gather together in the evening for dinner and then watch an old Christmas movie, or better yet, read from one of our favorite Christmas stories. Hot chocolate and laughter will flow accordingly.
We’ll also be watching to see how long the storm will last and when it will pass and, be assured, it will pass. That’s the way life is isn’t it? Storms come and go and even though they are difficult there can also be beauty in them. It’s usually in the storms that we stop and consider the things that are most important in life. Storms have a way of getting our attention and we forget about all those other things that can distract us from the things that matter most. If not for the storms, we would miss much of the beauty.
Whatever storm you may be facing in life, hunker down, hold on, and try to see the beauty that can come from it.
“When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established forever.”
Proverbs 10:25, ESV
From The Heart - Shawn Paul Bryant's Blog 