Ice

There is nothing quite like a mid-January rain storm to make the typical Wisconsin driver feel unsure of themselves. Once that rain freezes the roads can feel just like a skating rink! And that's exactly what I found myself driving on last night. The roads were just wet for most of my journey through the darkened countryside. My windshield wipers flicked only occasionally, ridding the glass of the mist as it accumulated. Things were fine . . . for a while. Until I turned off the main highway and onto the side roads near our house.

Whoa!!

Left over snow and ice from the storm we had a few weeks ago gets down right slick when God pours a little water on top of it. Wee!!!

Back when I was in college, I remember my parents and I driving back to Madison one winter weekend. We had one of those massive Mercury station wagons, kind of like the Family Truckster from National Lampoon's Vacation. We called in The Sled.

We were cruising along rather nicely, about half way to Madison, when we suddenly began passing cars with tremendous ease. I checked my speed. Hmm, not speeding . . .

"Why are all of these cars going so slow?"

That was right about the time I lost control of the car and we began to rotate, slowly, to the left. Ever go down the freeway at 60 mph? Sideways? I almost caught it once but . . . mmm, no. We spun 3/4 of the way around and came to a stop, facing the ditch. I smiled sheepishly at my dad who was riding shotgun.

"Ha ha! Ice." I chuckled, trying hard to be cool. My dad just stared at me. (Gulp). We proceeded the rst of the way at 25 mph.

There are times in life when we get caught by surprise. Things can catch us off guard and we usually find ourselves incredibly unprepared for the events that life throws at us.

Last year a friend at work told me that her husband had just left her. No warning, no argument. He just came home one night after work and said, "We're done." He put some divorce papers on the dining room table and left. There's no way to prepare for something massive like that.

Did you ever watch that show Doomsday Preppers? It's a show about people who are preparing for the end of the world. They train themselves in hand-to-hand combat. They have large stashes of weapons and food and spend their lives waiting. Waiting for the end. Those guys are JUST a little wacko. Or are they? I guess they're just trying to be prepared. But in the end, what will they have gained?

I am a doomsday prepper. But me and my brothers and sisters are doomsday preppers of a different sort. We have been assured of surviving until the bitter end, and beyond. Instead of storing up silos filled with grain and corn, we tend to "store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy (Matt 6:20)." Instead of training ourselves for the impending zombie apocalypse, we spend our time in the spiritual dressing room -  putting on the full armor of God as described in Paul's letter to the Ephesians.

"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." - Ephesians 6:10-18

No matter what comes our way in this life, whether it's zombies or black ice, unless we are prepared, spiritually, we will never be adequately prepared for anything. So grab your prepper's training manual (The Bible) and may you have a wonderful day prepping for the Lord! :)

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." - Matthew 24:36