As a kid… I LOVED snow… the more snow, the better.
Fun to play in.
Fun to eat.
Fun to throw at other people.
Fun to build things… snow forts… absolutely the best!
As a kid… SNOW WAS THE BEST.
As a slightly aging bald-headed person somewhere in his 50’s…
SNOW IS THE WORST!
Shoveling… super sore back.
And driving… don’t have the vehicles anymore that work well in snow.
Long gone are the days in which snow is the best… BEACHES, those are the BEST!
I’m guessing like many of you, you’re getting a bit tired of having to shovel yourselves out over these past few snowstorms. Well, as I’ve been doing lots of shoveling as of late, I have a new take on snow…
SNOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY
As a kid, snow was an opportunity for outdoor playtime, but as an adult, snow is an opportunity to practice loving and serving those around you in super practical ways.
When Jesus was asked what the most important thing one could do, Jesus made clear to his group of questioners that loving God and loving neighbor was it – see Luke 10:25-29.
And when that group heard Jesus’ response, their follow up question was… ‘Well, who’s my neighbor?’
In response, Jesus told them what might be one of the most well-known stories in all of literature… the story of the Good Samaritan. You can read that story here… Luke 10:30-37.
Much could be said about this story but to keep this devotional brief, let me just say this…
NO ONE ASKED HIM TO HELP
The nameless ‘Good Samaritan’ saw a need and he met that need. He did not draw attention to himself, rather, when he saw that someone could use a helping hand, his hands helped.
If you’re familiar with the story, you know that the religious characters chose to turn a blind eye towards the needs of the one in the story that was in all sorts of hurt. But not the nameless Good Samaritan, his heart was compelled to help the one who needed help.
According to my most trusted weather man (that would be Jason), he tells me more snow is coming our way this week… some today, and even more on Friday.
Whenever more snow shows up (and it will), let’s not forget this very simple but practical reality…
SNOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY
Serve those around you by shoveling.
Serve those around you by shopping.
Serve those around you by… well, whatever the need is, do what you can to meet it.
I shoveled out the wrong neighbor on Monday. Meaning, Kyla told me and the boys to shovel out a certain neighbor, but we shoveled out the wrong house. But you know what, whenever that neighbor came out and discovered that their driveway had been shoveled out, well, I’m guessing they weren’t all that upset. They have no idea who did it, and that’s sort of the point… loving your neighbor is about seeing a need and doing what you can to help meet that need.
One of our neighbors is now 90 years old… driving for him is not a good idea in normal conditions, but shopping in these ‘snowy’ conditions is really not a good idea. So much easier for us to do a quick run to the grocery store than him. What might take him 2 hours would take us all of 20 minutes.
And for those of you who are thinking, ‘Michael, have you never heard of InstaCart?’ Yes, I have heard of Instacart, but when seeking to love our neighbor through serving our neighbor, paying someone else to do that for me, well, I guess that’s one way you could do it, but there’s something more personal and relational when you do it yourself.
To be honest, I’m hoping we’re done with snow this season… but I fear were not. So, when the snow comes this week, don’t forget…
SNOW IS AN OPPORTUNITY
Loving our neighbor is not a seasonal thing, rather, it’s the call of Jesus on those that would choose to follow Him. So, like the Good Samaritan, see a need and meet that need as best you can. And in so doing, your neighbor will catch a glimpse of God’s heart for them through your hands seeking to help them.
