Humble

We had a huge storm in our area. You probably read about or heard about some of the destruction. There have also been several local reports of accidents caused by the weather. My husband's co-worker was seriously hurt when her car hydroplaned and rolled.

I sometimes think that weather is God's way of keeping us humble. I know about cycles and patterns and seasons. And I don't think God is picking out places on the map and throwing lightning at us for entertainment. But in the "big picture', weather is one of those things that will never be within our control. It doesn't matter if we have money or education or political power or believe in God. Weather still happens. And if you think science really understands it, think about about many lives are lost each year because of weather "disasters". I put that in quotes because most often weather disasters are simply a result of us being where we shouldn't build in the first place- rocky hillsides, flood planes, beaches, dry prairies. We try to defy the laws of nature, but it doesn't work. And then we rely on the local weatherman to tell us what to do. How many times is the weather forecast truly accurate? I took my umbrella to school for three days because each day the weatherman said it was going to rain. On the third day it did. Pretty accurate I guess.

A friend sent me an email about how we "limit God" because our minds can't comprehend him. I think that's true of the weather, global warming, creation, the Bible...you name it. We limit any concept to our own understanding of it. We do the best we can with what we have- this tiny brain. It's the one God gave us, and I think he had a reason for it. We aren't meant to understand everything or control everything. That's his job. I laugh when Al Gore starts talking about global warming. He acts like we invented it and we can stop it. That's like an ant moving my house. Has he read the Bible? Perhaps global warming is just the first step in the plan for the end of the earth. Maybe it's just part of the natural cycle of nature. Perhaps its just God's plan for His creation. Has any aspect of life on this planet stayed exactly the same since creation? And who gave us the right to say "we must have this and it must not change!" Just because we can observe it and chart it on a Power Point presentation doesn't mean we have any control over it- positive or negative.

I feel more humble with each passing year because I realize how very little of my life is within my control. I can't seem to control this mind and body that God gave me. How in the world do I expect to control anyone else, or something as powerful as the weather? I'm an ant. 

Now don't get me wrong. I'm still going to plant my little garden, knowing that it might flood or burn tomorrow. I'm still going to pick up trash on Trash Off Day because I believe in keeping my little area of the country cleaner, even if the wind blows the trash back again. I'll try not to drink so much bottled water because yes, we create too much trash.

I'll do the best I can where I am with what I have. It's the way I've always lived my life.

But I'm humble. Because I know nothing is within my own power. It's God's world. His plan. His power. His rules. He's just kind enough to let me play the game.   

Comments

[Susan]

Amen! Well said.
Susan