Already my anxiety chemicals were rising thinking would the tractor start in sub-zero weather, would it get up the hills with the ice that already covered the surface, or worse would it get stuck in a ditch spinning its wheels unable and we would be snowed in for the season.
Sometimes our minds get stuck on a negative thought and instead of letting go we dwell on the worse that can happen. It seemed there was a moment when the disciples were stuck in their boats all night long without any anything to show for their efforts. Along comes Jesus and His response is simply, get back into your boats and try again. It would appear Our Lord’s friends are burnt out from their labors and just want to go home to bed. Instead, Jesus rallies their spirits and they head out from shore most likely grumbling under their breath, what does this carpenter know about fishing.
Well, the carpenter must have “heavenly radar” because next thing we hear the boats are swamped with fish that they fearful they will capsize. The lesson here is when we find ourselves exhausted from the struggles of life, Jesus comes to save us. Maybe, we don’t need a boatload of fish, but a little positive attitude not to be afraid of another winter storm.
At 6am, on Thursday morning, I plowed 4 inches, then at 10am, another 4 inches, next at 6pm, another 4, then at 10pm we were up to 16 inches and still snowing. Friday, we had 3 inches overnight and it kept snowing till 5pm when the air cleared and our snow totaled a record 25 inches.
The driveway was clear for Sue to make it to her doctor’s appointment in Rochester on Friday morning. But there was another path that needed to be cleared. You see my spouse takes care of all creatures great and small, Her kitties are the small ones. Mittens is an outdoor kitty that we have fed for several years, Sue had built insulated huts to keep him warm during the cold winter. However, he had disappeared during the storm. Sue searched for him and found him hiding in the next door neighbor’s shed. Smart kitty but how will he get his food in four feet of snow.
Sue starts shoveling a path from the side of our house where the kitty huts are located to Maggie’s backyard barns. We had cut a path through 700 feet of snow though the woods and grape vines until we had shoveled a path to the neighbor’s shed window where Mittens had survived the storm.
Why would anyone bother doing such a heroic act of kindness to keep a stray kitty fed and watered. Simple, it’s love. Inspired by my spouse desire to keep this kitty safe, I finished the path, and in the end we were both exhausted. I was grateful that I had married such a compassionate partner.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we are grateful for those people who inspire us to be compassionate. We had cut a path to help Mittens find his way to his food bowl and water. Perhaps, you have someone who is feeling empty, desperate and in need of a helping hand. Lord, as You filled the boats with food for your exhausted disciples, come fill our dropping spirits with Your compassionate heart and love.
