Snow Removal

A few days ago, I wrote a lament about spring not really being spring so far this year (or something like that).  The last four weekends we have had some kind of winter disturbance - Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, last Sunday and now this Sunday.  

I don't have to tell you that this is getting old.


I like to keep my driveway nice and clear - and it helps when we have warmer weather that keeps it that way.  However, it doesn't really help your positive outlook when the normal weather pattern that is supposed to be rain with much warmer temperatures has been consistently colder with snow all over the place.  We cancelled church worship this morning because parking was an issue, the streets were not cleaned, visibility was problematic in the country, and people just need time to clear their driveways.  A lot of churches cancelled worship today.  I wonder if they are as tired of the weather as we are.

I had some time to think today while clearing the driveway.  I'm always in the market for a terrific sermon illustration and the recent weather has provided the perfect one.  

What if we looked at removing snow as the ideal comparison to making the pathway of life smooth and clear?  There will always be obstacles - barriers that need to be removed or, at the very least, navigated in order to maneuver through those challenges.  Sometimes faith is the snow shovel that does it.  It isn't always the easiest thing to rely on your faith when the challenges seem so heavy.  It's hard when the challenges are like the wet, heavy snow.  I will always believe that faith will make the way clear, but there are times when it taxes our faith.  And if life in faith is anything like today's weather - relentless and seemingly never-ending - it requires a faith that can stand up to it.  

So, as I see it, we need to continue to find ways to strengthen our faith.  Worship.  Prayer.  Study.  Fellowship.  Just some of the keys to keep your pathway in life clear of all the cold and frozen stuff that gets in the way.