Last-Minute or Laziness?

You lazy fool, look at an ant.
    Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
    All summer it stores up food;
    at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?

-- Proverbs 6:8-8, The Message

I live in the Midwest United States. We are in the throes of an incredible cold snap. Our high tomorrow will be subzero Fahrenheit, plus winds gusting and blowing the snow sideways. Last week, I shoveled out my walks and driveway at least three times, and this morning you would never know it's been touched. 

Welcome to winter, bigtime.

And as is often the case, the newscasters are hyping up the whole affair, showing footage of cars stuck or sliding in the snow, long lines and empty shelves at the grocery and the gas stations.

Don't get me wrong: this is serious stuff. My thermometer says it's 15 degrees and it was 20 when I got up. Schools all around have closed today and will close tomorrow, as well. (Heck-- even the casino is closed because of the cold. Hell freezing over?)

But we've been hearing about its coming for days, if not longer. The numbers have changed a bit, the amount and type of precipitation shifts depending on the forecaster. But all of them have been telling us to be prepared.

And yet. People are going about today, frantically searching for bread or milk, and becoming angry when they cannot find a single loaf or carton.

Seriously-- how privileged do we believe we are???

So here are my points, both of them:

1. Believe what you hear. When someone tells you, over and over, that something (good or bad) is going to happen, prudently prepare yourself. And not only that, but if you can-- help a neighbor prepare, as well. Pick up an extra loaf. If today is not your day and the storm passes over-- make PB & J for the neighbors before the bread goes stale and everyone wins!
2. Do not foolishly believe that you will be fine; only the others have something to worry about. Live responsibly. Do everything you reasonably can to prepare for "the worst." 

So, too, with our spiritual lives. It is not sufficient to sit back, pray a little prayer and live blithely in the knowledge that your name is in The Book. While faith is necessary, I believe if one's heart has been warmed with the love of the Christ, one's life will reflect that in the way one lives now, not just when one reaches eternity. 

We are told, over and over again, that the Lord will return. I don't know what that will look like, but I do know that I should be ready. And that means not only professing faith and encouraging others to do the same; it also means readying this place, our corner of the Kingdom, every day.

Did you ever have a party when your parents weren't home? Remember how carefully you cleaned up before they got back? Did your best to make things right?

Kind of like that.

We have been partying pretty heartily for some time now, wreaked a bit of havoc with the gift of Creation God gave to us to care for. Isn't it about time we started cleaning up a bit-- just in case Daddy gets home before we expect him? (Like we have any idea when to expect him, anyway.)

What will you do today? How will you improve your little corner of Creation-- today, and each day?

Generous God, teach me this day (and remind me tomorrow) how to live with Kingdom vision every day, listening for your nudgings in my life. Amen