Snowed In

It is quiet here at 5:15 am.  Outside, a chilly -12 degrees Fahrenheit, and there are 4-5 foot drifts in the driveway.  Yes, we are snowed in.  How glorious.  It has been a long time since that happened.  What fond childhood memories this stirs.  I recall blizzards and white outs that prevented us from seeing the red barn that sat not more than 70 feet from the house.  I envision those five foot drifts and piles of snow that reached above the roof line.  Snowball fights, snowmobiling, hot tea and hot chocolate, the fireplace by which to warm ourselves when we came in from the cold.  Family.  Home.  Feeling safe and happy in our home.  Great joy.

My brother and sister wish we had this weather when we were home for Christmas.  Normally, I would not be here to experience this.  However, I am still recovering from a brain injury that occurred nearly two years ago.  I am mostly fine, but there remain a few glitches that prevent me from working or being able to live life on my own.  And at this moment I am thankful, thankful to be here, soaking in the quiet, the glistening landscape, the crispness of the night sky that only happens at arctic temperatures.  Ah, I feel like a child.  In fact during the snowstorm, I donned my snowmobile suit and stepped into the driving snow and wind to capture the glorious vistas before me, make a snow angel, and take a selfie while lying in the snow before returning to the warmth of the house.  Ah, the joys of a youthful spirit. 

Dad is gone to the North Woods, so it is quieter than usual.  Mom has not been able to go to work, and actually the bitter and very dangerous wind chills caused the schools, many businesses and churches to close the past two days.  The winds are to die down later today and the snowplowing will begin in earnest.  Within a day or two life will return to normal.  We journey through life with these little moments of pause and grandeur.  It can be so easy to resume life as we know it without fully grasping the gift we have been given.  We literally set aside the glory, joy, love, and fulfillment we have felt during these times.  I, however, don’t want to file these away for the history books.  I am not speaking of living in the past, but rather in the moment, i.e., actually living our lives in such a way that we experience breakthrough and the joy that comes from living in abandon toward God.  There is a reason that Scripture tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  Joy is powerful, and I want to embrace the richness of each vignette, letting it envelop and become part of me.  I want to live my life going for the joy and delight of living in the abundance we are promised, and spreading it like my nieces spread peanut butter, getting it all over everything.  

I feel so blessed to have been given a rich life, one filled with intimacy with God, His Presence, family, friends, joy, opportunities to give to and serve others.  I feel so blessed that God loves me and shows up in more ways than I ever thought possible.  He loves me.  I am His favorite.  He is proud of me, even when I blow it, because I am His daughter.  He will give me the desires of my heart, and He will always be with me because love never fails.  And since God is love that means He never fails; He always succeeds.  So even when life is less than you might want or even worse than that, remember that God loves you and wants more for you than you can imagine.  (See Jeremiah 29:11-13, Isaiah 43:1-3, and the book of John.)  He will show up in brain injury, unemployment, heart attacks, abuse, and other situations horrific and bleak.  And I promise you that He will show up for you, often in ways that delight you and bring peace.  For me, in this moment, it is in five foot drifts of snow, starry nights, and solitude.  What is it for you?

I pray you are warm and feeling loved in this moment, feeling seen, and feeling that you are His favorite, too.  Bless you.

Until next time…

Isaiah 43:1-3a (NKJV):

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.