My birthday was this past Monday. On that day, 27 inches of snow fell in my son’s town, which is also the town I pastored in for a long time. When the weather service says that 27 inches, they mean 27 inches in a sheltered space. Drifts are much higher and the more wind, the higher the drifts. The whole area was shut down for a whole day, which doesn’t sound like much. But in an area where they are very proud of their ability to keep the roads clear, a day is a big deal.

         Still, not the worst snow ever. Late November of 1998, a lake affect storm blew in off of Lake Erie and dumped about three feet. On Saturday I had a funeral and when we got to the cemetery we could not get to the grave site. So they set the casket on a picnic table, we all huddled together and I did the graveside. The deceased’s son said that it was fitting because his Dad had loved a good snowstorm and he had loved picnics. It snowed all night and the next morning was the only time we ever called off church. Because of drifting, many churches had their doors blocked and because the Lake was still warm, the snow was wet and heavy and the roofs of two churches in the area caved in.

         Still, not the worst snow ever. Late January of 1978. Yes, we all remember that little bit of joy. South Bend got 36 inches with drifts well double that. Our area in Ohio got four feet. All along Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, 80 mile per hour winds howled along. With wind chill figured in, it got to 40 degrees below zero. If people really needed to get out of their homes, it was easier to go out an upstairs window. A lot of people died, but it would have been so much worse except for those who had snowmobiles going around and checking on people.

         Still, not the worst snow ever. 1949. From mid December through mid January, 27 different snowstorms swept across the Plains states. I wasn’t born yet, but it was legendary in northeast Ohio. The winds swept in to Indiana and Ohio, bringing mostly just wind. However, in northeast Ohio, those winds blew over the Lake and led to the highest lake affect snow fall ever. Bill Vandervort, an Elder in the church I pastored, told me he was working at the electric company and got stranded there by the snow. Everyone’s power was off but they could not get out to fix the lines. Almost everyone heated with coal, so people could stay warm, but even so, many died. Bill told me that about one o’clock in the morning a man got to the power company, nearly frozen to death. He said his wife was ready to deliver a baby and the pain was so much worse than before. Could they get to their house and get her to a hospital? The power company did have a couple of big surplus WWII trucks with plows on them to keep the lots clear. Bill said that he and another man walked on top of the snow and then dug down when they thought they were there. They found a truck, sort of dug it out and cranked it up. They managed to push through the snow to the house. There they helped deliver the baby. The husband/father told them that they had already picked out a boy’s name and a girl’s name (that was the way you did it back in the day, kids) and since it was a boy his name was going to be what they had decided on. BUT, in honor of the power company men who came in and saved the day, the boys nickname would be Sparky.

         Where is all this going? Whether it is snow or hurricane or earthquake or whatever, we are like dust mites compared to God Almighty. We think we can control things, we even understand what causes it all. We think we can predict, but we cannot. It is all in His hands.

         And yet….His love for us is so amazing that He will stop and listen to a small child’s prayer for her puppy. His love for us is so great that He knows us as individuals. His love for us is so intense that we can cause Him to grieve. Do you ever wish you could pick up the phone and call the President? There is a number and I called it once, but it was just a switchboard. However, I can talk to God whenever and I KNOW He hears and I KNOW it will be answered for the best.

         Whenever the pandemic hit, people were saying it was the worst thing to ever happen. Really? Not even close. One commentator wondered if it was related to climate change. Wow!

         GOD IS IN CONTROL, and He still has all the time in the world for you.