A Snowstorm, A Sliding Jetta and A Good Word

It’s the end of March, and Mother Nature seemed determined to shower western New York with another snowstorm. I reacted as most did as the 8-10 inches of snow was landing. I screamed. I am tired of winter. Oh please, global warming aficionados, tell me it is going to get warmer. I fear I have come to a conclusion that Al Gore invented global warming. I am tired of his fiction.

I was on the road during this storm. I had been invited to speak at the CA group at Monroe Community College (MCC) in Rochester. It was hard driving on the Thruway. I was not going fast, but as I was going by the Batavia exit, I moved into the passing lane to make room for cars coming onto the road. About a mile later, I moved back into the right lane, but the Jetta did not cooperate. I began to fishtail and I was looking straight ahead at Genesee Community College. That was a problem.

It is interesting the thoughts that come into your head when you lose control of a car. It becomes surreal and time seems to go slower. My first thought was, “I guess I am going to be late for this meeting.” So as I prepared to go off the road, the Lord enabled me to do the right thing, gas and steer (front-wheel drives are interesting creatures).

The meeting at MCC was a God-event. Following the principle of never wasting your pain, I once again spoke on the topic of Where Faith and Depression Meet. Afterwards, many of the students came to me to discuss their struggles. I could tell liberation was taking place as the truth was setting young men and women free. God was on the move.

It brings such joy to bring hope to the hurting. The opportunity to bring a good word – truth to those in pain is a blessing beyond comprehension.

The following verse comes from one of my favorite hymns, May the Mind of Christ My Savior, and it is my prayer…

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing

Wearing a Girdle...

I was afraid it might come to this someday. I am wearing a girdle.

And they are every bit as uncomfortable as I imagined them to be. What is worse, is that this abdominal (or is it abominable?) binder is doing nothing to return me to my "girlish" figure. Okay, I never wanted that anyway.

I had surgery on Monday. For years now, I have been putting up with a bothersome hernia. A few weeks ago, it turned into more than bothersome. It became painful. So, under the knife I went.

Now, I am sitting here at 2 AM, dozing on painkillers, but not really being able to sleep.

I know it is slightly ironic, but it is when something goes wrong with my body that I admire the complexity of God's creativity when it comes to the human body. For this slight weakness in the muscle wall has caused the whole of my body to complain: "We are in pain!"

I am incurable when it comes to recognizing design. The whole world shouts at us about a Creator. It speaks every day with its beauty. And when we don't get it, God uses its brokenness to convince us. He even will use pain to get our attention.

Yet, for all the clear communication that is put forth, it is amazing how deaf humanity can be.

"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."