For Such A Time as This – February 4, 2021 – Dennis Lohr

 To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,
 
Joys and Concerns
If you have a joy or concern you would like us to share and pray about, please call, text, or email it to me.  If you would like it included in our Sunday Worship sharing and prayer time, please share it with Pastor Bill that week by Thursday evening. 
 
Prayer Request:

• Shila Ulrich asks for prayers for her sister, Nena Steward, mother of two small children, who was hospitalized last week with COVID.She is now home and recovering slowly.
• Nancy Hemler’s family has requested prayers for Nancy who is not doing well and has taken a turn for the worse following her second COVID infection.
  

See this Saturday’s “Weekly Up” email for additional prayer concerns.
 
Thank You:
To all who call others to check in on them and to share our emails and devotions.
 
Today’s Devotion:
I have written todays devotion.  I hope you find it helpful. 
 
Shalom,
Dennis
 
Scripture – Proverbs 30:24-28 (Good News – adapted)
There are four things in the world that are small, but very, very wise:
Ants: they are weak, but they store up their food in the summer.
Rock badgers: they are not strong either, but they make their homes among the rocks.
Locusts: they have no king, but they move in formation.
Lizards: you can hold one in your hand, but you can find them in palaces.
 
Thoughts
Proverbs teaches us to look for wisdom in our natural world.  As I worked at snow removal earlier this week, I pondered two lessons I have learned over the years:
 
One: A large task is easier to accomplish when broken down into smaller parts.  Before I owned a snow blower, I quickly learned that it was easier on my back to clear my driveway and sidewalks after every 3-4 inches of snow, than to wait until it had finished snowing and have to shovel it all away at one time.  I applied this lesson on Monday, going out three times: morning, afternoon, and evening, with my snow blower, to work at it a little bit at a time, rather than waiting until all nine inches had fallen.  It’s always deeper at the end of my driveway after the plow has cleared the street.  Working at it bit by bit throughout the day was the better plan for me.  This is true in most of life.  Breaking large tasks into smaller segments is a good strategy.
 
Two:  It is easiest to move freshly fallen (or plowed) snow.  If I wait too long the snow either starts to melt and clogs the blower, or it starts to freeze and becomes more difficult to break up and move.  Again, this is especially true with the ridge of snow left at the end of my driveway after the plow has cleared the street.  I think this is true in life as well.  Delaying a difficult or unpleasant task or chore usually makes it more challenging when I finally get around to it.
 
Bonus: Talking with Karen Haldeman yesterday about these things, she shared her own wisdom about shoveling snow.  Before she goes out to shovel, she takes a few moments to stretch, particularly stretching her muscles in the opposite direction from which the shoveling will pull them.  This is a good observation that can also apply to life in general.  Before taking on a challenging task, take some time to prepare yourself physically, mentally, and even spiritually.
 
Proverbs teaches us to look for wisdom in our natural world.  Many of Jesus’ parables were examples drawn from nature.  Jesus often said, “Let those with eyes to see, see, and those with ears to hear, hear.”  Please feel free to respond with lessons you have learned from nature. 
 
Prayer
Gracious God, whose wisdom created all that is, thank you, that by studying your creation we can discern your wisdom.  Amen.