Bartholomew and Oobleck

ENJOYING ALL KINDS OF WEATHER

This weekend much of southern Wyoming was under a blizzard warning. Snow accumulation was predicted to be between twenty and thirty inches (we received thirty eight inches) with wind gusts between thirty and forty miles per hour (we did receive all the wind which was predicted). We made preparations. We canceled all events at our home, set up some Zoom calls with friends, and prepared for a couple of snow days. It has been wonderful! We turned off our phones, sat in front of the fireplace, read some, and watched a couple of movies. We took our dogs outside every couple of hours so they could take care of their biological needs. We did not not outside long and were able to safely enjoy the unusual storm.

I first learned to appreciate and respect weather from a surprising source:  Dr. Seuss’ Bartholomew and the Oobleck, which my mother used to read to me when I was only four or five. It is a small book about a king who was tired of the rain in the spring, sun in the summer, fog in the fall, and snow in the winter. One day he ordered his magicians to come up with something new,  and they created oobleck, which began to fall from the sky. Oobleck was green and sticky. At first it was a wonderful change, but then it started to stick to everything, and the kingdom ceased to function.  The king apologizes, the oobleck disappeared, and the king proclaimed a holiday dedicated to the rain, sun, fog and snow, “the four things that have always, and should always, come down from the sky.”

ENJOYING THE WEATHER

Weather should be enjoyed!  It is a gift from God. We usually think of enjoying a sunny day at the beach, or a warm day when we are outdoors gardening or cycling. People who have lived in the northwest often enjoy a cloudy day or thunderstorm. Many people who live near ski resorts enjoy the bright sun while skiing on freshly fallen snow. Obviously, different people enjoy different kinds of weather.

BEING HUMBLED BY THE WEATHER

But there is another way to enjoy the weather.  When we experience strong weather, we are helpless, we can’t control it, and we recognize how small and helpless we are. This isn’t bad. Strong weather can humble us and lead us to worship when we are forced to think about a God who is so much bigger and more powerful than we are. Storms remind us we are not in control, but we can worship a God who is. Powerful storms also remind us that there is a God who demands our respect. God, like the weather, can’t be controlled by our complaints. And like the weather, God always gets His way. Of course there are many people who don’t respect God or His weather. These folks seldom prepare or take any safety precautions, and they are confident they can survive any storm; which just isn’t true. Many people complain a lot about the weather. They complain it is too hot, too cold, too dry, or too wet. In Cheyenne they complain it is too windy! I try never to complain about the weather. I fear too much complaining will bring oobleck! One of my little life goals is to not complain about the weather.

My prayer is that today, wherever you are, you would thank God for the weather you have. I pray that you would remember that weather is a gift, even when it is not your favorite type of weather.

(When our dogs were outside the blowing snow stuck to them like oobleck. They didn’t complain, but they seemed happy to be inside.)  Thanks for reading.