Today, the nation watches as so much snow falls in lots of places. One of the biggest storms is taking place just miles from me. I'm sitting in my office at church, soon to go home and join my family for dinner. There is no snow on the ground, and though it is cold and windy, it's hard to comprehend what is happening just miles away.
To our north, there is the ever present snow belt area of Pulaski, Mexico, Sandy Creek, and Watertown. There are getting a lot of snow. To the west of us, the interstate is closed from Rochester to Buffalo and south to the Pennsylvania line. I've travelled that road many times.
I've lived in New York all but seven years of my life. Snow storms can be fun, and they can also be scary. They switch gears without warning at times. Today with all the communication and technology, often we have an idea what is coming in just a few hours or days.
Tonight my heart goes out to those living in western New York. Some places are for sure going to get 5 to 6 feet of snow and some are now saying it could be up to 8 feet. The cold air coming across the warm great lakes has created the perfect storm. I just read that in West Seneca (an area near Buffalo) 10 of 22 snowplows are stuck. Now that's a storm. Our road crews do an amazing jog in New York winters - pray for these workers as well.
I know what it's like to drive on the interstate and not be able to see anything in front of you. We call that a 'white out'. It's a helpless feeling for sure. Join me in praying for everyone impacted by this storm in my home state and across this country. It's hard to believe with what it looks like outside, I'm just a few miles from a storm.
One final word - people go through storms everyday. You may be going through one now, or you may know someone who is - and then again you may not even realize it. This morning as I walked out of the gym where I workout, one of the trainers who is a member of my life group was standing on the sidewalk and looked somewhat distraught with his phone in his hand. He had just received word from his mother, that his grandfather had died. My friend was in a storm. I was so grateful God put me right next to him when he found out. We prayed together and looked to the Lord in the midst of this painful moment.
Stay sensitive to those all around you. They may be in a storm. You never know when a storm is coming. Trust God, pray much - and please join me in praying for my friend, his family, and for all those in the snow storms as well.
