Continuous Storms

This winter we have had more major snow storms than I can remember in years.  I remember counting storm # 7 and being quite amazed.  These were all serious blizzards and storms – not your usual flurries or light snow.  And then all this was followed by an ice storm.

The weekend following Christmas there was a major blizzard in the Northeast, resulting in my not being able to go to work for three days - quite unusual for someone living in NYC.  As each new storm approached our area, and the major news turned into a continuous weather report, for once we learned to believe our meteorologists rather than mocking each report with doubt.

This past weekend we had some more snow – not a major storm – but enough to excite the meteorologist once more – and I’m sure they were hoping a major storm would erupt.  And they are predicting snow showers this weekend – and are all excited once again!

It is interesting, that in a world with wars, famine, earthquakes, hunger, poverty, terrorism, and other international disasters – the prediction and fulfillment of a Nor’easter can push all headlines aside.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I enjoy hearing about all the unfortunate disasters that are world-wide – but focusing for hours on end, on snow, lack of clean-up, cancelled trains, planes and abandoned automobiles, just seems a bit ridiculous.

Interviews with people complaining about the weather – as if there was someone listening to these complaints that might re-consider the next storm scheduled.

I think it’s a sad, but true, characteristic of most of us, to complain – to share our feelings of being treated unjustly – concentrating on how difficult our burden has become – as if this was the curse laid upon us that will ruin our lives forever more.

Fast-forward eight months and the news and chatter will be the unbearable heat – atrocious humidity – the smell of garbage within our city streets.

What does it take to have the first and foremost thought in our minds to be gratitude?  When do we see the blessings that are poured over our lives, even among the trials and tribulations we deal with each and every day?  When do we think of how we, yes we, can make a difference in the life of another by serving, spending time, making a call, knocking on a neighbor’s door?

If we took a fraction of the energy we used each day complaining about life and used it to serve others, we might just see a small portion of our purpose.  The reward returned would more than fulfill the desires of our hearts and we just might have the opportunity to also get a glimpse of the heart of God.