55 hours, 19 minutes and 22 seconds! It was then I saw it. OK, I made up the time but it is an approximation from the time that power went down in our area to the time when I witnessed it. By the time you read this, the Ice Storm of 2008 may even begin to be a fading memory. The images were very real. For some the metaphor of “a war zone” was the best way for them to describe it. For others it was simply cold, dark and quiet. You began to distinguish, though, the sounds of darkness. The sounds of powerlessness. The distinction between the pop of a tree limb and that of a transformer. The distinction between the hum of a passing car and the hum of the generators running through the neighborhood.
But at 55 hours, 19minutes and 22 seconds, I saw it! Another distinction. It came in many ways and at different times.
…People who had serious needs carrying in the Christmas gifts for needy families and children.
…People probably trying to save their own food walking in with hams, potatoes and green beans to feed the homeless and helpless during Christmas week.
…People encouraging others with a word, a hug, a prayer.
…People signing up saying, “I can help!”
…Young people being available like the two teens that made themselves available for helping anyone. When told we may be able to use them, one said, “Sweeet!”
…People who make up a church staff that looked at every way to help others than tried their best to do so!
…People being neighbors, family being family, people being people to people like people are designed to do by God!
One of the sweetest sounds I heard was after three and a half days of no power and 1 ½ days living on a generator was the off switch on that generator. But I think the sweetest sound of all was the sound of the distinction made by God’s people as they sought to bring the gift of His presence through their presence.
And that brings me to 2009. Here we are! Ready to launch a new year. Can I invite you to not let the power of the miracle of God’s presence trough us to fade? Here are the words that reverberate in my heart and mind as I reflect on Ice Storm 2008 and New Adventure called 2009:
“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8 NLT)
Can I invite you to join me in adopting this text for 2009? Make this your hope. Your aim. People being people the way God intended it. Simply put: Being the people of God wherever our feet take us!
It is than that the Christmas miracle of Ice Storm 2008 can become the lifestyle miracle of 2009 and the world will know “Immanuel: God is with us”. They will just have to look at you. At me. At us. Happy New Year!
In HIS Adventure,
pastorgeoff