Cold, Windy, and Powerless

As I sit here at the computer I'm reminded of all the blessings that I have compared to other people. For example, today in Nova Scotia it's raining in some areas, snowing in others and very windy (100 km/h) This same system had a half million customers without power over the eastern seaboard of the US yesterday and is expected to bring up to 25cm of snow for Newfoundland tonight. Lots of local homes have no power and are unprepared (though I always wonder...it does get windy here and snow every year so why would they be caught off guard?) We're ok. We're prepared and our power is still on. We have things to occupy the kids should the lack of power make computers unavailable and candles, firewood, food etc.

Since my neighbours obviously know it's going to snow at some point and that wind and rain often mean flooding and power outages, doesn't it seem stupid that they wouldn't prepare?

Well, Who am I to judge another. Rather than gloating about my being prepared and someone else not, why don't I help them out? There are several ways to do this.

1. Prepare and store a little extra. Make room in your home for unexpected guests so that if the heat goes out you can invite them into your home to stay warm and comforted. Have an extra 72 hour kit made ready. Add more to your food stores. What can it hurt?

2. Be a good neighbour, friendly, helpful and tidy. Think about what you can do to make their lives more joyful. Cut their grass if they're struggling. Babysit. Take over a loaf or bread. Rake leaves or blow snow. Look for ways to provide meaningful service and if you just can't find something...then do something anonymously. Everyone feels good when a little treat appears and you know someone cares about you.

3. Get to know them better. Maybe they don't understand about being prepared. Maybe they are really struggling financially or having a personal problem that's not evident on the surface. It just might be something you can help out with and if not, you can at least let them know that they're special and that you value them.

We judge people because we think we're better than them in some way, or to make ourselves seem bigger. Maybe it's to pass the blame or because we're jealous of them. So many different reasons. But no matter what the reason we have no right to judge others. Old, young, rich or poor, black or white, smart or slow, each of has a story of life experiences that defines how we judge others and how we ourselves are judged. It sort of goes along with last Sunday's post.

It's something we are all working on, right? To gossip less and try to be less judgmental. If we're all working together towards a common goal, whether it be in sports, work, church, volunteering, preparedness or anything else, we owe it to ourselves and to each other to help create a positive environment in which we help each other along. Since we all have different strengths and weaknesses we can gain so much more by helping out when someone is struggling, just like we'll appreciate their help when we need it.

Cooperation is the name of the game. It's like the old saying... Thou Lifts me and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together.

Hope you enjoy this Sunday message. And thanks for all your kind birthday wishes.