Tag winter

Take It Slow in the Snow

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

A Winter Road. A Spiritual Lesson. A Faithful Captain.

Opening

The weather outside may be frightful, and the roads may be anything but delightful. Snow piles up, visibility drops, and ice hides beneath the surface waiting to surprise the unprepared. On days like this, the wise stay home. But if you must venture out, safety is job one.

Take it slow in the snow.
Because where there is snow… there is almost always ice.

1. The Four‑Wheel Drive Myth

A lot of folks hit the winter roads thinking four‑wheel drive makes them invincible. But every seasoned driver knows the truth:

All tires slide on ice.
Four‑wheel drive helps you get moving — it does nothing to help you stop.

And sometimes?
Four‑wheel drive just gets you into trouble faster.

Spiritually, pride works the same way.

1 Corinthians 10:12 — “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Overconfidence is black ice for the soul.

2. Weight: The Hidden Stability

Years behind the wheel taught me something most people don’t understand:

An empty truck bed is unstable.
A loaded truck settles down.

Weight increases traction.
Weight presses the tires into the road.
Weight gives you control.

Spiritually, the same is true.

Psalm 119:11 — “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

A believer with Scripture inside them has spiritual downforce.
An empty soul slides.
A weighted soul stands.

3. Traction: Obedience Under Pressure

Dualies give you more rubber on the road — but only when there’s weight pressing them down.

Empty dualies?
They float on snow.
They lose grip.
They slide sideways.

But load that truck…
and those dualies bite into the surface and hold steady.

Obedience works the same way.

James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

Traction isn’t about speed — it’s about grip.
It’s about consistency.
It’s about doing what God said even when conditions are slick.

4. Modern Parables from the Road

Parable 1 — The Invisible Ice

Black ice looks like pavement.
Temptation looks like opportunity.

Proverbs 14:12 — “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Parable 2 — The Slow Driver Who Arrives

The one who slows down in the storm is the one who makes it home.

Isaiah 30:15 — “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

5. The Road as an Altar — First Person Revelation

I’ve spent a lot of years behind the wheel.
Long roads. Long nights. Long storms.
And if there’s one thing driving has taught me, it’s this:

Experience helps… but experience alone won’t save you.

I’ve learned to feel the road through the steering wheel.
I’ve learned how a truck talks when the bed is empty,
and how it settles down when it’s carrying weight.
I’ve learned the difference between snow and ice,
between a slide I can correct
and a slide that’s already decided for me.

But even with all that experience,
I’ve had moments where the road reminded me:
You don’t know what you don’t know.

And that’s exactly what happened on the Sea of Galilee.

The disciples weren’t rookies.
They were experienced fishermen — men who grew up on that water.
They knew the winds.
They knew the currents.
They knew the storms that came out of nowhere.

But one night, a storm hit that was bigger than their experience.

Mark 4:37 — “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat…”

These seasoned men panicked.
Why?
Because experience can teach you a lot —
but it can’t teach you everything.

Experience can make you skilled —
but it can’t make you sovereign.

Experience can help you navigate storms —
but it can’t calm them.

Only Jesus can do that.

Mark 4:39 — “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’”

And someone always brings up Paul’s shipwreck as a rebuttal —
“See? Even a man of God can go down in a storm.”

But look closer.

The ship wrecked…
but the people didn’t.

Acts 27:22 — “There will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.”

Why?
Because a man of God was on board.
Because God had a purpose for Paul that no storm could cancel.
Because Jesus wasn’t just along for the ride —
He was the Captain of the outcome.

And that’s the lesson I’ve learned on the road:

I can have experience.
I can have skill.
I can have traction and weight and wisdom.
But if I try to navigate a storm on experience alone,
I’m headed for a wreck.

But if Jesus is in the cab with me —
better yet, if He’s the One holding the wheel —
then even if the truck slides,
even if the road gets rough,
even if the storm gets violent…

I’m going to make it.

Not because I’m a great driver.
But because He’s a faithful Captain.

Psalm 121:8 — “The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in…”

Final Reflection

And before I close this out, let me say one more thing — something personal, something true, something I carry with gratitude every single day:

I’ve survived over three million miles behind the wheel.
Accident‑free.
Incident‑free.
Storms, snow, ice, long nights, empty roads, and crowded highways —
and I’m still here.

Not because I’m the best driver.
Not because I always made the right call.
Not because experience never failed me.

I’m here because Jesus piloted my ship.

Three million miles…
and not one of them driven alone.

Thank You, Jesus.

Closing

If you have nowhere to go today, let it snow.
Rest. Be still.

But if God calls you forward, take it slow in the snow.
Move with wisdom.
Move with awareness.
Move with Him.

Because the One who guides you through the storm
is the same One who clears the road ahead.

Proverbs 3:6 — “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths”

The Sounds of Autumn

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

image A View from the Nest
Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky

51 I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53 This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true: "Death is turned into victory! 1 Cor 15:51-54 (GW)

Canada-Goose-Szmurlo.
Image via Wikipedia

The familiar sound of honking geese caught me off guard this evening as I sat outside enjoying the end of summer. This is the last weekend before the official fall season begins. The school buses are already running around town picking up their daily charges and depositing them at their respective institutions of learning. The sounds of autumn are certainly in the air. Although the weather is turning a bit cooler in the evening it has been nice the last couple of weeks for those last minute trips to the seashore or vacations to the mountains. I have yet to get into the mindset that accompanies autumn, I am still in summertime mode. Thus the familiar honking of the southbound geese caught me unaware.

Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking into the future. No matter how hard we try to hang onto those last lazy hazy days of summer, they eventually come to an end. The incessant honking of Canadian geese is a sure sign that summer is past and winter is just around the corner. I enjoyed my summer time and really did not want it to end. To me there is something magical in a warm summer night. But alas those days are now past and the long dark nights of winter are fast approaching. Try as I might I can not extend the length of days, past the times and seasons set by God, I can only endure the long cold winter nights and anticipate once again the sound of honking geese as they return from the warm southern climate to once again grace our northern skies.

To some, the autumn honking of the geese is a welcome sign that the hot days of summer are past to me, however, I much prefer the spring time return of those same honking geese to remind me that the cold dark nights of winter are over.

Much like the sounds of the honking geese indicate the changing of the seasons, so shall the time of the End, be punctuated with the sound of the trumpet blast, indicating that death has now given way to victory, and life has sprung up from the grave. That is probably why I prefer the spring time migratory honks of the geese flying overhead to the autumnal southward trek. The latter reminds me all too well of the fleeting of time towards the darkness of night, while the former brings hope of a brighter tomorrow.

Sound forth the trumpet therefore, so that once and for all time the deadness of wintertime can be swallowed up in the springtime of new life. Until then I shall prepare for the cold long winter while anticipating the soon coming springtime renewal.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

Along for the journey

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Length of Days

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

image001A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

>Pr 1 (RSV) My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;2 for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you. Proverbs 3:1-2

Springtime...
Image by bfcfranco via Flickr

Ah yes, spring is in the air. The days are starting to get longer and the sound of the song birds are again gracing the air. Flowers are starting to sprout everywhere I look, and dark threatening storm clouds are being replaced with the lazy fluffy-white clouds of spring.

 

I am so glad each year when spring rolls around. The dark grey nights of winter so dampen my spirit that I can hardly wait for spring’s arrival, when those dark nights give way to the much brighter spring days. The icy cold winter air is gradually replaced with warm spring-time breezes. Ah yes, springtime!

I guess the thing I like most about springtime is the longer days. I could not imagine living in a place that got less than eight hours of daylight each day. I can not imagine how those who live way up north can handle long periods of darkness. I enjoy the sun. I enjoy the warmth of it, the brightness of it, the glow it gives the earth. I am not a sun worshipper but I surely do prefer daylight to nighttime. I guess you could say I am a child of the light. J

Anyway while driving the other day I came to realize that the days were getting longer and I thought of this verse from Proverbs that speaks to length of days. I do not know about you but I really like long summer days when the sun remains in the sky ‘til way past eight o’clock in the evening. To be able to come home from work and still have several hours of daylight left to enjoy before night sets in, is a real treat.

The “spring time” of life should be relished and enjoyed because the darkness of old age moves fast upon us. When we remember to put God first in our life, and to honor His word and His ways, He promises us ‘length of days’. I am not saying it will be endless “springtime” but it surely sounds like the long, cold, dark, nights of winter will be kept at bay, at least in a spiritual sense.

I like taking God at His word. I have read and heard of the wonderful things he has done for those who put their full trust in Him. Therefore, I am claiming my extended spring time and the abundant welfare he promises. There is only one catch. I have to keep His commandments. With my whole heart, I have to obey His word. Then I will be able to see the length of days, full of the sunshine He promises in his word.

God causes the sun to rise and He surely can extend the daylight hours in our lives if we let him by adhering to His commands. If you take time to stop to think about what His word commands us to abstain from, they are all things we should avoid because they bring about a shortening of life. Wisdom dictates then if we obey the Lord’s commands things should go well with our life.

Of course even during the summer we have the occasional summer storm, but it is still nice to know that the sun will remain in the evening sky far later then it will during the wintertime. That is comforting. Let the length of days begin. J

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

Along for the journey

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Length of our days: Focus on Judaism and the personal life

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