Hello,
I have heard many people say that they don’t need Jesus to make it
through life, and truthfully, I have to say that they are probably right.
This past weekend brought a fall of snow upon us Easterners the likes of
which many haven’t seen for a long time.
More than 2 feet fell upon the Nuernberger house and hill in Stahlstown,
Pa. Saturday afternoon, as the
snow was still coming down, my wife and I decided that there was no time like
the present to see if we could make our way out to civilization.
Those of you who have been to our house know that we live on top of a
hill with about a half a mile serpentine lane to and from the main road. Always having been able to plow
ourselves out, we set out with determination to conquer this storm. Unfortunately, we discovered that the 2
feet of snow was mightier than our tractor and after working for three hours
and only making it about a quarter of the way down the hill and the path that
we had made was not traversable by car or truck….we surrendered. I made several calls to people in my
congregation to tell them that I was snowbound and would not be able to make it
to worship in the morning. They
rallied the troops and prepared to have worship without me.
So, Sunday morning I got out of bed, participated in worship via the
internet with a congregation in Mankato, Minnesota (a place that is used to 2
feet of snow…and I have to say that although I was thankful for the time spent
with them over the internet, my belief was supported that it just doesn’t match
being at church), and then put on my snow gear to go out and wrestle with the
snow again. As my wife and I
worked, she on the tractor and me scooping stone, throwing it under the tires,
and digging down into the snow to find the side of the lane…we began to make
some progress. Inching…and I mean
inching…our way down our lane.
After about two hours we had reworked our work from Saturday, and had
made it about another 50 yards. We
were making progress….and I had great hope that eventually…eventually we would
make our way out.
Then on a glance down the hill I saw a well welcomed sight. There, making its way up our lane was a
plow equipped truck! It, too, was
struggling its way through the snow making runs that would only move the pile a
few feet. But they were making
progress…more significant and less laborious progress than we were. It was our neighbor Ralph who had
enlisted one of his neighbors to come and dig us out. To say that I was thankful is far to mild a word. Had I not been worn our from my digging
and not be standing in two feet of snow, I would have danced with joy.
So, my wife and I backed our little tractor up the path we had made and
watched with delight as Ralph copiloted the plow widening our bucket-wide effort past us on its way up to our
house. Alleluia!
The truth is, we probably could have and would have cleared out narrow
path from our house to the road without Ralph and his truck driving
neighbor….but this is certain: I am very thankful that they arrived and helped
us out!
Can a person make it through life without Jesus? I am pretty sure that a person can…but I
know that when I have found myself plowing through the blizzard of my life,
wearingly inching my way through waist high snow, battling the cold wind of the
world….I am thankful that there is one whose power and might comes to open a
path of forgiveness, hope, and peace for me. I am thankful …very thankful…that Jesus comes to help me
make it through life. Alleluia!
Have a great week.
God’s grace and peace, (ggap)
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
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