Tip of My Iceberg

Growing up in the Midwest, it was quite normal to have major snowfalls in March and April. I can remember year after year of cute Easter dresses needing to be covered up with heavy coats because of a spring snowfall.

Living in Florida, that’s never an option. Global warming would have to do serious work to create snow around the Orlando area. At any time of year.

Our daughter in Denver, however, experiences the white stuff so frequently that she shudders (pun intended) at the thought of another snowfall.

They had a major storm that dumped two feet of snow across the Denver area.

For those not used to snow, it sounds idyllic to have such a beautiful landscape of pristine white. For those used to hot and humid temperatures, it would appear to be a delightful change of pace.

For those trapped by drifts and schools closing and needing to work from home, it’s uncomfortable at best.

Courtney’s office closed for the day, so she and Beck stayed home. When the snow began to fall, she knew the dangers of letting it accumulate and become heavier, so she spent two hours each on back-to-back days shoveling snow. Her back suffered the most, but she wasn’t even able to finish her driveway–she managed a path to leave the house and do the sidewalks.

Her husband was away at the time, a phenomenon I experienced frequently when we’d be walloped with hurricanes while John was out of town,

A sweet gentleman came by while she worked, driving a snow plow. He helped clear off the hardest part where the driveway meets the road. It was too heavy for Courtney to attempt on her own, so he gallantly cleared it for her.

An act of random kindness.

We all find ourselves in situations that have gone wrong where we’re at the mercy of our circumstances and need a helping hand to free us from tough situations.

Over 1600 years after Adam and Eve chose disobedience to God and were ushered out of the Garden of Eden, Noah came into the picture. The world had degenerated into scathing corruption to the point that the actions of His people broke God’s heart. The people did as they pleased, not caring about consequences, who they hurt, or how their actions impacted others.

God decided to begin again.

He told Noah to build an ark in a place where there wasn’t any water. People mocked him for what he did, but he resolutely obeyed God. When the ark was finished, God spoke to him.

“Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. but I will confirm My covenant with you. So enter the boat–you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal–a male and a female–into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood….And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.” Genesis 6:17-18, 21

A gargantuan task, but Noah faithfully followed what he’d been told. When the rains came, they flooded the earth–it rained for forty days, Everything on earth was covered with water–all not in the ark died.

God didn’t leave them in the ark–He allowed the flood waters to recede and the ark landed on dry ground. God also promised He would never again curse the ground with floods because of what we do as people, even though we’re all prone to wrong actions. He gave the sign of the rainbow as His promise to Noah, a confirmation of the covenant He’d made with Noah.

Fun fact to know and trade for the day–most historical cultures have flood stories.

The ark represented an act of kindness by God for those who had faithfully followed Him–and there was nothing random about it. Such kindness we rarely deserve because of how we treat one another and the hurtful choices we make in life.

God’s acts of kindness toward us are never random. He’s intentional in His love, protection, and provision. When we have relational equity with Him, having chosen to believe He is who He says He is, He is with us always.

When the Israelites were preparing to go into the Promised Land, Moses encouraged their leader and the people, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

When we find ourselves in trouble, in places where there’s no help, we long for someone to come alongside us to help. Because asking is often challenging, if that person offers their assistance, it’s even sweeter.

God offers His power and presence to anyone and everyone who will ask Him, who will believe Him. None of us deserves such help; He gives to us because He loves us that much.

Jesus is our very own Ark, carrying us through the storms of life. With the promise of hope ahead.

It’s not hard to walk onto His boat.