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Sunday was interesting.   In Calgary, Alberta, a snow storm descended.

Now, for the past months I have traveled thousands of kilometers.  In whiteout conditions, in fog, on ice covered roads, behind trucks spewing splatters of brown water on the windshield, behind shaky red lights I presume were vehicles preceding me, and generally in winter road conditions none too nice.

Sunday was a day of wind and snow.  At least for the hours we had scheduled to visit some friends.

Cynthia and I had sung in a trio 30 years ago.  The other trio member was to be in Calgary on Sunday.  We had not seen her in decades.  She would be attending a church service just down the road.  A mere 30 minutes away. 

We had arranged to attend the service. 

Until the snow began.  I started out on the road.  The first kilometer was ugly but passable.  Then a blough of trees gathered the snow and caused a drift to cross the road.  We motored through and I began to wonder what would come next.  And what the road would look like two hours later, on our return trip.

I may have seen many kilometers of winter weather, but this was a bit too scary for me.  And with a passenger of great worth, I decided to turn back.  The return trip allowed us to attend another church service – which was worshipful and restful.  Unfortunately, meeting our friend will have to await for another time!

Driving to work I encountered a most strange thing!

At one corner, a temporary four way stop had been instituted.  Apparently someone had knocked out a traffic light standard. 

One of the temporary stop signs had also been hit.  The subsequent result was that the sign, it’s sand bags and other paraphenalia were stretched across the road. 

We all were able to navigate around the debris.  I continued on for a few more blocks, wondering who would clean this up.  If not me, then who.

I turned around, headed back, and moved the debris to the side of the road. 

The reason this sticks in my mind is that our Grade 5-7 Sunday School class (which I help teach) has been working on random acts of kindness.  Here was an opportunity which I almost missed.

I wonder how many other opportunities we miss?

Another “Lessons Learned Living with Jesus” devotional:

I  just heard another one of my friend’s struggles with cancer.  Struggling with chemo that has not worked.  Struggling with earthly attachments.  Struggling to rest in God’s hands.

I cried. 

She begins her latest thoughts with praise.  You cannot live a long life with God without a sense that the end is better than the beginning.  There is a soft landing when we fall into God’s hands.  The terror is in the fall.  

Constant pain is currently gripping my friend.  Releasing loved ones wrenches the heart. 

For almost four decades I launched my life daily with one whose life was always close to death.  I laughed, cried, walked with, sang with, was thankful for the days I spent with my loved one.  And in her mortal end came a true beginning. 

For heaven’s sake live life on this earth with pure abandon – keep a light touch on the things of this earth – grab hold of that which will not perish.   There is more to come!!

²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (Philippians 3:20-21) 

The hour long drive was on roads that were not bad, but a bit icy.  The meal was fantastic, pulled beef.  And the training session had some pithy insights.

Imagine working in a country where you cannot be seen as the leader.  Everything you do must come from others.  You cannot assume any official titles.  How then shall you lead?

Our speaker came from that situation.  His thoughts were well grounded in Scripture and experience.

Prayer – start there!  Hear what God has to say.  Spend time in meetings praying!

Programs – the important thing is not the program, but the person.  Their life in Christ, and how they are passing that on to others is paramont.

Teach – Make your first teaching task to tell people about God – how to hear from God, how to live in God, how to be holy people.  Reporting on the progress of programs should begin with reporting on how the people are doing spiritually in their own lives.

Aim high – what if our goal was to have all people become mature in Christ, to be fully Christlike in all they say and do? 

That is just a start on some of my thoughts.  But a good start!