On Tuesday,
February 22, Kathy and I received a call from our daughter. Mary is a Social Studies teacher at Wasilla
High School. Mary was not expecting another “remote learning day”, but you
know the weather Alaska has experienced this winter. Mary shared that, not expecting the remote
learning day, she had to scramble to get her computer together so she could
fulfill her duties as a teacher. But,
this devotion is not focusing on computers, which are their own source of frustration. The focus of this devotion is on the weather,
and the frustration it has brought this winter to those in Alaska.
What a winter we
have had in Alaska! (I used the word
“we” advisedly) From the snow and extended deep cold of November, with more
snow in December, to the winds of January, the Alaskan weather this winter has
caused more challenges than normal for work and travel. However, then add to the November through
January weather, the almost continuous snow of February, followed by rain, and then
snow, and then rain. You know that this
weather has led to flooding in parking lots and the streets, and also led to avalanches
along a number of well-traveled roads. Alaskan residents have experienced more
than just frustration. All a person has
to do is to look at how many days the schools have been closed, whether from
broken pipes or from unsafe roads. That
number of “snow days” and “remote learning days” tells the story of quite a
winter. It’s one thing to have snow and
cold. We expect that. But the winds and the rains and the closed
schools and closed roads, that is downright ugly!
However, I
confess that I personally have what I might call, “Weather guilt.” Mary called to talk to us because . . . we
are in Florida. Yup, she was struggling
to get her computer situated in case another “remote learning day” was
declared, and I had just returned from fishing in 82 degree weather. She was facing the snow and rain and cold,
and the havoc that weather is playing on Alaskan lives, and we were enjoying a
warm day in the south. That’s “weather guilt.”
As we have spent time with family and friends in the south, a regular
phrase coming out of our daughter’s mouth to our ears has been, “I don’t want
to know how warm it is there!” J
I do understand. Kathy and I experienced some of the snow,
some of the cold, and we were in Palmer for the January windstorms. In December I put my life in my hands, and in
the hands of my Lord, driving across the Turnagain Pass on a trip to Sterling
in what was an unexpected snowstorm.
But, while we were in AK for much of the weather, we have not been there
the whole time. Having experienced some
of the struggles of this winter we can understand, we can sympathize with our
family and with our friends and church members as the weather turns ugly.
I can share that
God calls Christians to have compassion for one another. He wants us to care about each other and to
care for each other in those difficult times of life. One of the experiences
that helps us to care for a person as they struggle, is when we ourselves have
faced the same struggles. In 2
Corinthians Paul shares with members of the Church of Corinth the blessing and
call they have from their struggles. “3 Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and
the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from
God.” God comforts us when we
face trouble, so that we can use the comfort our Lord has given us to, in turn,
help and comfort others facing the same struggles. Kathy and I do understand this winter’s
challenges, and we do sympathize!
The writer to the
Hebrews teaches us that God doesn’t just care about us in our weaknesses and
trials, but because of Jesus, God understands our suffering. Because of Jesus, God can and does help us in
powerful ways, “15 For we
do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but
we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without
sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)
Because of this
sacrificial caring and sharing of our burdens by Jesus, Christians are uniquely
suited to care for others. “32 Be kind
and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.” In Christ, God has been compassionate and forgiving to us. One of the ways we show
compassion is when we forgive others.
However, it seems
more and more that, instead of caring about one another, people in our world
care about themselves. It seems more and
more that, instead of helping others in trouble, people in today’s world look
down on those going through struggles.
Unfortunately, even Christians are accused of being unsympathetic and
lacking compassion, often with good reason.
When we were
helpless, Jesus took on our suffering. Understanding
our lost condition, Jesus died and rose to forgive us and save us. When we receive God’s understanding, His saving
compassion, and His help in Jesus, the Lord is equipping us and calling us to
have compassion on others. And yes, I am
sorry about your difficult winter weather this year.
A Child of God, Seeking
to Use My Suffering and Struggles to Understand and Help Others,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Instead of fishing as much this week, Kathy
and I visited friends, Rick and Kristi Armstrong, in Orlando from February 17
to February 19. Rick was best man in our
wedding. Kristi made the wedding cake,
and was a bridesmaid. They visited us in
Alaska this fall, and we spent time with them this month. Here are some pictures from a trip to Cocoa
Beach. (I know – more “weather guilt.”) https://photos.app.goo.gl/wMhXTWbjQMxMn3kE6
P.P.S. I did have one fishing trip. I took the advice of a friend from First
Lutheran Church and fished in a big lake where I had fished only twice in my
life, and where I had never fished by myself.
It was a beautiful day. I saw and
heard wildlife. However, I maintained my
record in that lake of never having caught a fish there, or even having a bite
for that matter. Here are a couple of pictures.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DdDnsfffWc6hWaUk7
*****
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at
the end of August 2019 from serving as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran
Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously
entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired
many asked me to continue writing these devotions. So I have continued
writing. However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior
pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who
asked to receive it. (Though I am now serving again part-time at St. John
as assistant to the pastor.)
So, if you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you
understand. And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish
to receive them, please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my
distribution list. My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our
Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father,
Son, Grandfather
Pastor Emeritus,
St. John Lutheran Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
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