Meditation for December 20

From Peter Munson

Psalm 47

 

Sing Praises to God

 

"Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises with all your skill." (Psalm 47:6-7)

 

Right after I woke up this morning the phone was ringing.  It was one of Zach's friends.  "Is Zach there?"  "Is this Ryan?", I asked.  "Hi, Ryan.  No, he's asleep."  "Did you know that school has been canceled?  I don't know why.  There isn't even much snow yet. But if you turn on Channel 9, you'll see the news that there's no school."

 

My children's alarms were just about to go off.  I tried to sneak into their rooms and quietly turn their alarms off, but I was too late.  Hannah was already waking up, and Zach was answering his cell phone - another friend calling him to tell him the news.  And just think, he was supposed to have two final exams today!  I tried to encourage my children to go back to bed.  With school cancelled, they could get more sleep, don't you know.  Right!  They were both almost instantly bouncing off the walls and yelling, "No school!  Snow day!"  Zach, lying on his back, kicking his legs all over the place, shouted, "Yes!  Thank you, Jesus!" 

 

I'm not sure that Jesus was behind the snowstorm, but - with the exception of those who had major travel plans today and those who had no choice about going into work - I could see plenty of reasons to rejoice.

 

It seemed like Psalm 47, from yesterday's readings, was still ringing in my ears.  "Sing praises to God, sing praises!"  Zach and Hannah were already there!  It's almost as good as seeing your kids on Christmas morning... seeing them getting the news of a snow day.

 

I guess the schools knew what they were doing.  When I took my dog for a run this morning, there was blowing snow but not much accumulation yet.  Now, as I write this, at around  4:30 p.m., the snow has drifted all over the place.  It hasn't stopped snowing all day.  They say we may have two feet or more by the time it stops snowing sometime tomorow.

 

There is something about a storm that is so big that it forces you to slow down and "hunker down".  It is easier to go for a short walk in a blizzard than it is to drive anywhere.  Suddenly there is time to get to some things you haven't been getting to as much as you'd like - brewing a non-hurried cup of tea, pulling out a movie that you've saved for the family to watch on a day just like this, bundling up and trudging through the snow together, sitting down with a good book.  Zach just came in from shoveling snow and making  the world's shortest snowboard run!

 

There are some anxious moments, I admit.  Praying that friends and loved ones will make it home from work safely, and for those who are stranded and/or waiting to get out of town (or in town) for family gatherings, and for the homeless to find shelter - things like that.  But I must say, there is - in the midst of all those concerns - much to be thankful for this day.  A less-scheduled day, a warm house with a furnace that works, hot drinks, time to be with family, and a chance to think a little bit about Christmas.  And as I do that, I am reminded - as wonderful as a snow day can be, and I hope that for most of you it was a day that you could enjoy, a day where you didn't have to worry about getting stuck (or unstuck) on the roads - as wonderful as a snow day can be, it is just one of a multitude of things that we can sing praises to God for.

 

Like God becoming human, for example.

 

I pray with all my heart that all of you are safe today.  And I pray that you enjoy a blessed Christmas, one where you have plenty of opportunities to sing praises - for snow days and so many other blessings.