A Blizzard is Coming

The world as we know it in Chicago will end tonight. Or so it feels.

For the past 24 hours, the media has been hounding us of impending disaster. Even Tom Skilling is worried. He says he wouldn’t be caught dead on the streets tonight, or something like that.

Only Mayor Daley is hanging on to his Chicago nonchalance. No biggie, he says, or something like that. We are Chicagoans, nothing we can’t handle.

But despite Mayor Daley’s cavalier attitude, I went with the herds on this one. My day was full but I still squeezed in a visit to the grocery store. I stocked up on food. Wouldn’t want to be caught dead and hungry.

And I waited with the masses to fill up my car. Yes, I waited at the pump which almost made me late for work. And no, my car wasn’t on empty as it usually is when I finally decide to fill up. But it was worth it, knowing I wouldn’t be one of the few caught with their pants down. In fact, come to think of it, I should have grabbed an empty gallon and stashed up on some extra fuel. Who knows what will happen tonight.

Then I made the biggest decision of my life yet as director of Women’s ministry at my church. No, I didn’t lead someone to Christ. It was much more dramatic. Here’s what went down. I didn’t get out of work til 3 in the morning. Turns out the city is saving every sprinkle of salt until tonight – which makes me want to mention that I have an additional box of salt should the mayor need it. I’m volunteering it for a good cause. Back to my story….I was tired, it was icy, I may have fallen asleep on the wheel, or it may have been the roads, I cannot tell the difference, but I figured no more fooling around, time to man up and make a decision.

So I cancelled Bible Study for tonight.

Gasp! Yes. I caved. Hardest decision I’ve made in my life. Should I have prayed for a delay in the weather instead? Should I have prayed the women to safety instead? My faith couldn’t stand to think logically at 3 in the morning, but I have a gut feeling there are no tears shed over this one.

And now I’m hunkered down. I’m ready for it. Hit me, snow. Go ahead and fall, all 40 inches of you. I am ready for you. Oh, and did I mention I de-iced my drive way in your honor yesterday? I cleared it out and paved the way for you. I even salted it. I want you to come down like you’ve never done so before.

And so does every single human in the city of Chicago. There’s something so refreshingly uniting and fun about a blizzard.

Of course on a somber note this could be my last blog. The electricity may go out, the house may crumble under the weight of the soft white stuff falling from the sky.

But for now I’m ready for it.

This is where I usually would insert a deep spiritual lesson about the comparison between the impending blizzard and the coming of Christ. But not today.

Today, let’s just enjoy the snow. And of course don’t over eat, and don’t yell at your kids. They will be jumping off the walls with excitement.

Be safe folks. And tomorrow, let’s compare war stories on how we survived!

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