The last several days have been more challenging than any time in recent memory. Here in central Indiana we have another 13″ of snow or so that came over the week-end and caused massive traffic jams before a tremendous cold snap hit and we saw temperatures that went to -14 with wind chills in the -38 degree range. For Indiana, that’s cold!
Businesses have been closed both yesterday and today at the request of the governor and also the mayor of Indianapolis. Several businesses were trying to open this afternoon as the weather warmed up a little but the streets are still painfully icy and it takes quite a while to get around. There are many slide-offs and even two salt trucks slid off the road less than a mile from our home. It is quite possible that the schools will be closed one more day tomorrow to give the street crews additional time to clean up the mess and create a little safer environment for everybody.
My brother Doug was in Orlando during the holidays and then took his family to Charleston and Savannah for several days on their way back home. Their flights back to Chicago were cancelled and they elected to drive back to Chicago from Charleston. They made it as far as suburban Indianapolis the first day and then stayed at a local hotel during the coldest part of the weather. I spoke to him yesterday morning and they made the decision to press on home. The main roads were closed and so they had to take lesser travelled highways and a trip that normally takes 4 hours stretched into more than 8 hours! The good news is that they all made it home safely without incident.
That in itself doesn’t surprise me but Doug did say that there were more than 100 cars and trucks they passed on the way that had slid off the road between here and Chicago. And he thought the actual number was far higher – I think they stopped counting… Of course, there were hundreds of problems with accidents and icy conditions here in the area and I’m sure that is why the government officials asked for everyone to stay home the last several days.
As we had heat, water and no frozen pipes, I am grateful that we didn’t struggle through the last several days. Several friends ended up in hotel rooms and who knows the cost they will incur to unthaw and replace pipes that broke when their homes were without heat for many hours, or in some cases, days.
It is interesting to note that the Bible makes several references to safe travel – especially for weary travelers. I have thought of this passage many times when I have been on the road and am very tired. But God lets us know that his angels are with us and will protect us. We are told, in Psalm 91:9-12, “If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
All of us can use some support from guardian angels – don’t you think? My encouragement this evening is that God and His angels are there – aware of our situations and taking care of us in ways that we don’t even understand. My prayer is that you will trust God – but not test God – in this. We are not to do irresponsible things just to see if God will come and rescue us. So please don’t take exceptional risk. But if you get stuck in a bind, know that God is there and so are those angels He has assigned to your care. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…