We've been getting a lot of thunder snow here in Western New York during this three day event that's produced sixty inches of snow or more in some areas - so far. Thunder snow can produce two to four inches of snow an hour. I knew last night that we'd be snow-blowing again this morning.
This has been a brutal three days here. There's the sadness of knowing that people have died from heart attacks while trying to tackle way too much snow. My daughter and others haven't been able to get to their scheduled chemo appointments because of necessary travel bans. A friend is worried because ParaTransit hasn't been able to pick up her brother to take him for dialysis. (My husband told her to call 911 and get an ambulance to come for him.)
Sometimes we have periods in our lives when tragic events come one after another so fast that it's like the shock of facing day after day of swiftly falling thunder snow. And our hearts seize up from the pain of having to deal with way too much happening way too fast.
Days of thunder snow leave their marks on a region. Closed highways. Those deaths in the snow. Buildings collapsing from the weight of snow on their roofs. After we've faced several personal crises, a close family member or friend will see the marks on us. The pain only barely hidden in our eyes. The new gravity carried on our shoulders. We'll never be the same person again.
But just as a new baby can be born in a storm, as one was here, assisted into life by the unexpected arrival of two nurses - one specializing in pre-natal care, one a pediatric nurse - storms can also produce life. Personal storms can produce a new and stronger you and me emerging from trauma. If we can get past the terror of being stranded in a car in a snowstorm, we can produce a steady head to think of melting that falling snow to produce drinking water. If we keep our heads during life crises, we learn we have the necessary toughness and skills to survive anything.
We Western New Yorkers are tough people. Any part of the country is tough, whether they're struck by tornadoes, hurricanes, severe floods, or days of thunder snow. We fight through the elements. We work together as true neighbors. We learn from the mistakes we may have made. We rebuild. We go on, even stronger. So during our personal crises we can personally keep battling, receive the assistance of friends, re-build, endure. Be stronger.
We fight on and rebuild and endure and grow stronger because we know God is assisting us. God is with us. Sometimes we even sense His Presence and Power like the young couple did who received two nurses from nowhere to help deliver and take care of their baby in the middle of a snow storm.
The ways of all storms are beyond our human understanding. Only God knows why they happen. Only God. Do we trust the Almighty? In the midst of great tragedy, Job questioned God and God responded. Job suddenly knew God for the first time, felt His nearness.
Then the Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said: Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me if you have understanding.... Out of whose womb comes the ice, and who gives the hoarfrost its birth in the skies..."
Then Job answered and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I have heard of you, by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you."