SNOWMAGEDDON!

Our mild Northwest winter was given a sudden shake-up which brought substantial changes to the landscape and homes of tens of thousands of people. We had been coasting along with such a temperate winter, my tree mallow, perennial bachelor buttons, and a few rose bushes never lost their leaves and were even attempting to flower. We found ourselves yearning for a little snow, and I personally was just about to fall spread-eagle on any wayward, drifting snowflake and wildly start making a snow angel, no matter what the neighbors thought. Whispers of change hit the weather reports and we were given a head's-up that snow was on the horizon and in a big way. The first couple of days a light snow fell and the trails and roads around us were a manageable slush. I was reveling in the quiet stillness of the falling snow and filled with thankfulness for the silent beauty the snow created as it filled all the tiny crevices in the leaves and fir needles, accenting the green and covering the branches and ground with a light carpet of sparkle.

..."And then it happened, woo-hoo!",as the old techno song's lyrics come to mind.  We woke up to a huge snow-dump that brought some weighty changes to our surroundings. The picture below is our front yard.

The picture below is of a friend in my area's front yard.

Now, those of you from colder climates are probably, scoffing over these pictures, as no big deal.  However,we coastal Northwesters are not at all conditioned to this, and once more, neither are our trees. Nature has a way of pruning its branches by falling off in wind, ice, or storm and our pruning had begun.  As two more days of heavy snow fell, we then woke up to an ice storm and no electricity.  Branches of trees littered the ground and everything looked like a sugary glazed dessert. The first picture is of a friend's front window after a branch entered their living room.  Electricity in my neighborhood was out for about two and half days, but many almost two weeks later are still waiting for their power.  Wind storms have followed up, making our electricity spotty at best and clearing out even more of our area's tree branches which were weakened earlier.

My young little yard trees are still pliable and not really big enough to suffer, it was the large Douglas Firs across the road from our back fence, that I kept eyeing suspiciously and prayed would stay put.

Our little town looked like a war zone. Trees and branches littered the ground and utility workers from seven states have come to the rescue.  The sound of chain saws still fill the air and chipper-shredder trucks are blocking many lanes as they attempt to clear the roadways.  Some grocery stores were giving food away the first few days from their darkened powerless buildings. Don and I closed up the bedrooms, and snuggled in front of our battery back-up little gas fireplace with flashlights and candles, our rations were getting low, but that only tickled my creativity.

 Now, I'm a fidgety kind of person who when I have to be inside, spends a fair amount of time at the windows like a cat dreaming of high adventure.  Actually, my mom has lovingly described me as, " A dog who is tough to keep under the porch". Ha!  A week before the storm, I had developed some tendinitis in my hand that kept me housebound with some pain issues, then the storms hit and I paced the house with restlessness.  Don and I played Parcheesi and read, but when I didn't think I could handle it much longer, we heard a knock at the door.  Our neighbor was there, inviting all the people in the cul-de-sac to come to her house with whatever ration we had left in our cupboard for a pot-luck of plenty. We eagerly accepted and had a wonderful time! We all laughed and shared our adventures without electricity and bonded together like never before. 

I began hearing story after story of kindnesses from strangers during this time, and families without electronic distractions that came together listening to each other, and loving through games of strategy and chance, group story times, and long talks. Jesus says in  John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so must you love one another".  I think God must have been more than a little pleased as he saw life slowing down for some, and hearts being brought closer together in spite of logistical challenges.

Some people can bend and sway to challenges like my young trees, accepting life as it is.  Others may be like my little coral-barked maple whose salmony color glowed even brighter as the cold increased. Many of us need a little trimming done and we learn to sit still while troubled areas are removed, or honed so our life skills are more affective. 

And for those who are feeling overwhelmed, God speaks to us in Isaiah 40: 28-31, "The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagle's; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  May your heart be filled with hope during the storms that will come your way.

All Clean and Ready to Go!

My brother's dog, Wyatt Earp, has a job he takes very seriously, rinsing the dishes before the dishwasher is turned on. He has been doing this since he was a little puppy as seen below. A call of his name is all it takes for Wyatt to come in the kitchen and begin his scullery duty. Wyatt is a dog who clearly understands the benefits of thorough cleaning.

When I find myself peering through smeary peek holes from my car windows, I know that they too need a good cleaning. The other day I brought my car to the car wash and the sign at the entrance resonated with me in a whole new way. It detailed four things I had to actively do in order for my car to come out the other side clean and unscathed.

The first thing I had to do was put my car in neutral, of course putting my car in drive while on a track that moves at a pace that was programmed to give my car the maxium amount of time needed for a thorough cleaning, would be silly.  Additionally, putting my car in reverse and not even letting the cleansing water and detergent scrub away my car's grime would also be counterproductive. Nope, neutral it is, relax and let go.

The second thing I was reminded to do was to put my antennae down. Now, I don't have one of those, the good folks of Toyota decided to meld mine into my windows. However, my automatic windshield- wipers do have to be deactivated because they would be frantically trying to wash away the water, soap and brushes that touched my front windows if I didn't remember this step.  Windshield wipers deactivated, check.

Foot off the brake, was the next step. This one is always a bit hard for me.  Even though I know that the track that pulls my car along doesn't need the added resistance of me putting on my brakes, the first split second the track jerks me forward my inclination is to engage them.  I don't think I have yet, but it takes a conscious effort not to, as it just seems wrong to have something else in control of where and when I should move forward.

Once I've let myself be at the complete mercy of the track pulling my car forward into the wash, having my hands off the steering wheel is not a big deal. However, trusting that my car is really on the track at the beginning is a bit daunting. I have to willfully trust the reassuring attendant in front of me that my car's tires are indeed on the track, because it typically doesn't feel like they are placed where I think they should. It also feels like the track is going to pull the rubber right off my tires.

Once inside, the washing begins! I thrill to the excitement and tempest of the pouring water,  twirling brushes, and the soapy sounds of progress.

Wash, rinse, dry and and then a quick reflection of the car's new and improved looks. What could be easier?

Now of course this process has eternal significance as well. As we start a new year so many of us are refreshed by the prospect of a new beginning, a new start. All the struggles from the previous year are behind us and a new year beckons with new promise.  Its funny how just one day on the calendar can give us such wonderful feelings of hope and inspiration, yet each day we are offered that very same promise.  If we put our lives in neutral and in the hands of our creator, we are on the track that leads to blessings, purity, and all the good stuff that results from a life in alignment with God's plan.  It doesn't mean its all sunshine and good times, because removing dirt is usually a painful process, but God promises the end result is worth the effort of  "Letting go and letting God". 

I pray I can put myself in full neutral gear throughout the year, filling it solely with God's desires for my life.  I'm trying to keep my antennae down, and my windshield wipers deactivated as I simply trust that God sees the soil in my heart and knows where to clean and where and when to plant seeds.   If I look back, then focus and dwell on all the mistakes I made this last year, its like putting my car in reverse gear inside the car wash. God washed all my grimy sin away from me once I did the repenting work, reverse gear should never be an option (note to self: Remember this).

Even though its scary, I have to keep my foot off the brakes.  When I'm going into unchartered Lisa territory, my inclination is to not just put on the brakes, but pump them too! Right now I feel that a new teaching opportunity is opening up to me and I'm excited yet afraid of this new challenge. My need for safety tells me to remain stagnate, yet I know that God has bigger plans for me. Move me forward God, I want to see my new path. Steer me where you would have me go, Lord.  Prepare me by a good wash, rinse and dry me, then send me along to do your work. Help me to reflect your face in this new year.

Ezekiel 36:25-28
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people and I will be your God.