What a penitential start to Lent! This Ash Wednesday I will abstain from bathing. I skipped that luxurious ritual on Monday and Tuesday as well. It remains uncertain when the next warm shower might come.
Texas is enduring a winter storm of historic proportions. Temperatures have dipped into the single digits here in Elgin. It was -9 degrees Fahrenheit in the Panhandle where my brothers live. For almost a week now temperatures have remained below freezing. The combination of extreme cold and enduring cold has broken the infrastructure of our state. Like millions of fellow Texans, we have no running water. Thankfully, our power is not completely out. Rolling blackouts turn the power on and off in 20 min intervals. It is enough to cook an egg. Enough to keep us from freezing. The bedrooms, in fact, are comfortable if you wear several layers of clothing. Many of our neighbors are much worse off.
Yesterday I received an email from the principal of Clara’s school. It is not often that a school weather notices bring me to tears, but the message was more than notice of closure. It was a song belted out in the cold by a woman who has found her voice. Here is what she wrote…
Tue, Feb 16, 12:52 PM (23 hours ago)
Dear St, Mary's Family,
I pray you are all well and surviving this new and unexpected challenge (we have been having a lot of these lately)! In light of the numerous power and water outages, as well as internet and cell interruptions, we will cancel all classes for Wednesday and Thursday, and plan to attempt Distance Learning - asynchronously with no live classes - on Friday. If we need to cancel Friday I will notify you all on Thursday.
In the meantime, please let me or your teachers know if you need anything! We have always taken care of one another, and this is no different - we live among you and we are your family. We can assist one another in securing basic needs, and at minimum you can all be assured of our prayers!
If you are able to do so, please also be Christ to your neighbors - think about going door to door to check on them, or at least attempt to call them. Many people are struggling to survive this prolonged weather event, and perhaps you could be the difference in their lives at this time of difficulty.
I love you and pray continuously for your safety and well being, and I can't wait to see you all again soon. Until then, stay as warm as possible, try to enjoy this extraordinary snow, and enjoy time with your families at home. God is often most powerful in our lives at the times of greatest stillness. The hum of the world has stopped for a few days - perhaps He has something to say to us.
Love and blessings to you all!
Yours in Christ,
Heidi
The message touched me on two levels. Firstly, I know that Mrs. Altman does truly care for each family in the school. Every morning, rain or shine, she greets arriving children with a smile and kind word. She remembers important events in the lives of her students. She is always ready with a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.
Secondly, I was moved by her reminder to press into the quiet. To listen for the voice of God who will be found by those who seek Him. It is the same call that Joel made to the people of Israel, the same song the Church sings today..
‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –
come back to me with all your heart,
fasting, weeping, mourning.’
Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn,
turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion,
slow to anger, rich in graciousness,
and ready to relent.
Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent,
will not leave a blessing as he passes.
Our family has already received blessings in the wake of the storm. I have enjoyed the time with my children. We are all sleeping in one bedroom for warmth, and it feels like a slumber party. In the quiet I have had time to listen to some new songs as well. Like the song of our neighbor Scott from Minnesota who brought a hay bale to keep our water meter from freezing. And the song of his wife Leslie who has taken in friends without any power. And the songs of our Bruderhof guests who know the deep melodies of communal life. Rick and Nancy came from New York planning to stay in their RV and escape winter weather. Instead, they are helping us survive the storm. When there is nothing else to do, we play board games together by candlelight.
These are all blessings in the trial. They don’t make the ordeal less dangerous. We continue to pray and ask for your prayers. Every Texan will be greatly relieved when this is over. But hopefully we will also be changed.
Just for fun – Here is a blues song my son wrote this morning.
John with an icicle made by our dripping pipes…before the water went out.