We’re in the days now where snow keeps dumping from the sky, amiright? It seems we caught a break today and perhaps for the next few days, but bear with me, wouldya?
If you’re anything like me, you’re tempted, when it’s that light, fluffy, sparkly kind of snow that looks like it belongs in a snow globe, to just leave it on the roof of your car and figure that the wind is going to gently blow it off in a pretty stream of glitter when you start driving.
The problem is, sometimes there’s a layer of heavier snow or ice under the light stuff. And when you get on the highway, that heavier layer peels off all at once, and could potentially land on the car behind you. There’s been many an instance where a car’s front windshield was cracked or totally smashed in because of the flying snow of the car in front of them.
Sometimes it even crosses over into the lane of oncoming traffic, and slams into someone just going past you. People have been injured from broken glass, or actually being hit in the face from the ice flying through their window. One young girl in NH was killed because of it. They’ve since enacted Jessica’s Law there, which requires all drivers to clear the snow and ice from their vehicle.
As the driver of the snow-covered car, you may be completely unaware of what’s happened behind you, or across the way from you because you didn’t clean off your car. You’re just carrying on your merry way. You didn’t mean to cause a problem, those people just happened to be there.
However, you are responsible for the damage. While here in NY there isn’t a specific law against driving that way, you could still get pulled over for reckless driving, which is defined as “unreasonably interfering with the free and proper use of the public highway, or unreasonably endangering users of the public highway.”
So what?
Well, if we look at this from a spiritual standpoint, we’re all on the road of life. And sometimes we get dumped on. And it sticks like ice on a car. And we know we should deal with an issue, but we don’t, or we put it off because we think it isn’t a big deal.
And then, unexpectedly, those issues come to a head and they get released onto someone else along the road. Perhaps that person isn’t even someone we know. It could be a restaurant worker, or someone at the grocery store parking lot, or at the bank.
And we carry on our merry way, not knowing the damage we’ve inflicted by interfering with the public highway, or endangering other users. We’ve been reckless, and we’ve hurt someone. We somehow feel lighter in the moment, but it’s going to pile up again and become a dangerous cycle.
You know what? It’s not easy to face issues we’re carrying around. It’s not easy to admit that we have things we need to deal with. Perhaps you’re burdened by unforgiveness. Or maybe it’s pride. Or perhaps someone else dumped all their ice and snow onto you, and you’re salty about it.
Whatever we’re carrying around, we need to deal with it before we unintentionally hurt someone else. Maybe you need to talk to a friend and pray about it together. Seek the Lord and ask Him to help you forgive and heal. Seek advice from a godly counselor. Write about it in a journal and get your feelings out that way.
The beautiful thing about the body of Christ is that we don’t have to face things alone. Even if they’re really bad. Even if we’re ashamed. God gave us one another to help carry the load and see things in a different light.
Don’t let the snow and ice pile up on your spiritual car. You could be a reckless driver and not even know it. If you’re short like me, let others help you reach the middle of the roof to get all the ice and snow off, or get a long-handled tool. It will be worth the effort!
Ephesians 4:20-32
(20) But ye have not so learned Christ;
(21) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
(23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
(24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
(26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
(27) Neither give place to the devil.
(28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
(29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
(30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
(31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
(32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Colossians 3:12-17
(12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Of Faith & Fortitude 
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