Unbreakable Joy: Only in Michigan...

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Only in Michigan...

It was about 40 degrees yesterday as I left for work at 1pm. Now at about 7am it is 2 degrees with a windchill of around -20 degrees. Last night was one of the most hazardous shifts I have ever worked. The pounding rain changed to blizzard like conditions within minutes at about 8:15pm. Merely a few minutes later and the driving conditions were drastically reduced resulting in numerous cars and semi-trucks in the ditch.

My shift was prolonged an extra 2 hours as I assisted with traffic control for a semi-truck which became stranded in the center lane of I-94 when it's brakes locked up (not a good thing). When I was finally able to get off work and drive home the blinding wind/blowing snow was ridiculous. I was forced to turn back to work because I simply could not see where I was going. For the first time in my career I had to try to get some sleep at work (try is the key word). I had heard of other guys being forced to sleep at the post, but this was a first for me. Many times I've heard the phrase "You're not a trooper until..." but I'll just leave it at that.

Finally after a few hours of closing my eyes I decided to try again. The roads were still just a slick but the wind and blinding snow had slowed enough to allow me to see the road. I left at about 6:05am and got home at about 7:10am (20 miles).

The nagging question remains: Why do I live and work in Michigan?
On days like today I simply do not know...

4 comments:

mwh said...: I laid awake in bed last night listening to the howling wind. I was filled with a mixture of fear and awe. The wind was just unbelievable. Of course there were no other sounds in my house in the middle of the night, so I could hear the house creaking and popping as it responded to the stiff wind. And it wasn't gusts; just strong, high, persistent wind. Did I say unbelievable already?

I'm glad you made it home safely. I should note to pray more for our civil servants on nights like last night.; January 30, 2008 at 9:08 AM
kt said...: I'm so glad you're safe, too!; January 30, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Amanda said...: Me, too!

We seemed to get a double dose of wind noises: in our bedroom right under the roof and through Nathan's baby monitor. It was a loud night!; January 30, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Sarah said...: When we were in Hawaii, I asked myself this very question, "Why do I live in Maryland?"; February 4, 2008 at 8:55 AM

Post a Comment

Noteworthy Quotes

Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly so worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord.
- George Mueller

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.
- C.S. Lewis

A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, a spiritual man is hard on himself and easy on others.
- A. W. Tozer

Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee.
- Augustine

All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.
- Blaise Pascal

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
- Jim Elliot

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
- C. S. Lewis

He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.
- Augustine

The men of this world are children. Offer a child an apple or a bank note, and he will doubtless choose the apple.
- John Newton

In the end the heart longs not for any of God's good gifts, but for God Himself. To see Him and know Him and be in His presence is the soul's final feast. Beyond this there is no quest. Words fail. We call it pleasure, joy, delight. But these are weak pointers to the unspeakable experience.
- John Piper

God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Him, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
- C.S. Lewis

It is well that we accept the hard truth now: The man who would know God must give time to Him. He must count no time wasted which is spent in the cultivation of His acquaintance. He must give himself to meditation and prayer hours on end. So did the saints of old, the glorious company of the apostles, the Godly fellowship of the prophets and the believing members of the holy church in all generations. And so must we if we would follow in their train.
- A.W. Tozer

If God contains the fullness of all good things in Himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness.
- John Calvin

God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.
- John Piper

God glorifies Himself toward the creature in two ways; by appearing to their understanding, and in communicating Himself to thief hearts and their rejoicing in and delighting in Him, and enjoying manifestations He makes of Himself. God is Glorified not only by His glories being seen, but by it’s being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that he might communicate and the creature receive His glory, and that it might be received both by the mind and the heart. He that testifies His idea of God’s glory doesn’t glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.
- Jonathan Edwards