Stop the Presses

As sleet, snow, and freezing rain fell outside my office window today, I pondered the date.  Yep, February 2nd, the day we hear a weather forecast for the next month and a half from a mute groundhog.  At first, I thought that it was certain the groundhog would not see his shadow -- since clearly there is no sunshine here.  But then I remembered that it is in Punxatawny, Pennsylvania that the weather of the world is decided.  Or is it merely the weather of the United States?

Okay, so granted, it is a bunch of silliness.  But here in Roanoke, VA, talk of the weather is starting to not be very funny any more.  We had our second weekend snowstorm, and despite the face that the snow fell on Friday and Saturday, the kids were still out Monday and Tuesday back in December.  And now we just found out they will be out for a third consecutive day from this storm.  To add insult to injury, the forecast for this Friday is now calling for another major event of wintry precipitation.

I don't think we need a groundhog to tell us we're not quite done with winter yet.  But now in the not funny world of reality, we have to face some difficult questions.  What if churches all over the area don't meet again?  How long before we find other ways and times to worship?  How do we handle summer camp if all the area kids are still in school when its time for camp to begin?  On a civic level, how do we handle the fact that on a state and local level all the money for snow removal is long gone?

Okay, so I know this isn't the most theologically provocative blog, but it is relevant, its what many of us are thinking about.  But perhaps more importantly is the fact that like every other situation in life we face; God probably wants to use this to teach us.  Are we paying as much attention to him as we do to a famous rodent?