The weather this January has been very odd. I’ve been hearing that sentiment a lot lately from friends all around the US. Having lived in Connecticut, Arkansas, Missouri, and Colorado I know weather is weather and you just have to roll with it, but January has been one for the books.
- January 11 I woke up around midnight hearing the tornado sirens. Yes, I hung out in my bathroom for about 45 minutes until the all clear was given and thankfully, no tornadoes actually touched down.
- January 14-19 we had snow on the ground. The few times that we do get snow, it typically lasts only a day or two, so the five days of snow was a fun surprise (as long as my pipes didn’t freeze and the power stayed on).
- January 22 ice fell for the morning, but it didn’t stick around long as our temperatures finally made it up to 32 degrees (the first time since before January 13).
- January 24 we had flooding from all the snow, ice, and rain that fell January 11 – 24.
I work at an engineering firm in transportation. I have enjoyed learning all about this new field and working to serve the community that I live in. So what does transportation engineering and the weather have to do with each other? Potholes.
Because of all the crazy weather and the stress that it puts on our roads, we’ve had the perennial potholes open up on our highways. Some are small and can easily be avoided while others are rather large and can cause significant damage to a vehicle if hit. Below is a graphic that explains how potholes are formed.
With all this talk of potholes in our area and all the work to fix them it’s gotten me thinking about spiritual potholes. What am I letting “seep” into my heart and mind? What are the stressors (freezing temps, sun, or weight of traffic) that are bringing pressure to my life? I can’t always foresee where potholes are going to open up in my life, but I can mitigate their damage by following similar steps for protecting roads from potholes.
Regularly assess the road for areas of possible weakness – “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40
Take quick action when a pothole appears – “I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.” Psalm 119:60
Repair it well (not just the quick fix) – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
Adventures of a Single Pretzel 