Much like the rest of the country, Jackson got hit with a good bit of the white stuff! It started snowing around 9am on Friday and didn't fully stop until sometime Saturday afternoon. I took some pics throughout to show how much snow we got.
The parking lot of my apartment complex
Walter wasn't sure what to think of the snow
Off of my balcony
Walter finally decided to venture out for a bit and see what this white stuff was all about
I always love watching the snow fall, but I love watching the people out in the snow even more! I cannot tell you how many people spent 5-10 minutes spinning out in the same spot because of ice on the parking lot. There was one pair that really caught my attention...a guy in a Ford Ranger was trying to get out of the parking lot, but he just could not get enough traction to go anywhere. He would have to back all the way to the end of the lot, take a running start, and try to muster up the tiny little incline at the entrance, but he just couldn't do it! After about 5 minutes of him trying, one of my other neighbors who has a huge Dodge Ram with 4-wheel drive comes driving into the lot. He would speed up, stop real fast, and skid to try and wear off some of the ice. He did this the entire length of the parking lot. After he had worn away a path for the Ford, he got behind him and made sure he actually got out of the lot ok. I just thought it was so awesome that a guy, who may have no idea who the other person is, was willing to get out in the cold, take a few moments out of his afternoon, and help. Yay for chivalrous people!!
We ended up getting so much snow and wintry precipitation that church was cancelled today. I have been going to FBC Humboldt with one of the girls I work with. Everyone is really friendly, and I don't feel awkward there like I did at some of the other churches I visited. They do still have a full choir in robes and use an organ. And let me tell you something, it is really hard to take some of the modern praise and worship songs seriously when you have the organ blaring, a pianist trying to keep up with it, a drummer that wants to take off but can't, and a full choir singing. It's a little whacky at times, but I really do enjoy going. Last week I noticed something about the congretation that really touched me...
The pastor has been presenting a sermon series on fear: how to overcome it, how to use it, how God uses it, etc. Last week was a really touching sermon and got a lot of people's attention. There was a huge response during the invitation. A lot of people went up to pray at the altar. As touching as all of that is, that's not what I noticed...
What I noticed was the love and dedication of that congretation. Any person that went up to pray had at least 3 other people around them praying with them. One person would go up to pray, others would see, and they would swarm around them, offering comfort and support with whatever that person was going through. The love and closeness of that congregation is amazing! And it wasn't just that...I looked over at the youth section during the sermon, and 90% of them were intently listening and taking notes. Before small groups in the morning there have to be at least 50 hugs exchanged in that group. They ask how your week has been, what you've been up to, and how you are doing. You can tell any member of that congregation a problem you have or something you struggle with, and they will love and pray over you without a shred of judgment or remorse. This is a group that genuinely love and care about each other, and it is amazing.
It got me to thinking about other congretations I have been in. I know we all strive to have that close-knit church family that we can go to with any problem or need. We all like to put on the welcoming smile for any visitor and hope they find a place to connect. But does the smile stay? Do we really LOVE the people in our church family? I have to admit, there are times when I don't. There are people I just don't mesh with, and I don't go out of my way to show them God's love through my actions. For that I am truly sorry. I'm working on being less judgmental of people and being more open to newcomers. It's just hard to branch out of your comfortable little pocket that you've always been in.
So this is my challenge; not only for me, but for anyone that reads this: LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE. Embrace the family God has blessed you with through your church. Put aside any negative thoughts or feelings and offer a word of encouragement, a handshake, a smile, a hug. Then maybe we can really start being the body of Christ.
“God didn't put us here for that pat on the back. He created us so He could be here Himself. So He could exist in the lives of those He created, in His image.”
