Despite many of you being ill, I pray you are all having a happy start to your New Year. There is always something refreshing for me when the year changes. This year, I was able to celebrate the New Year from a place of Sabbath rest but quickly lost those feelings of refreshment after being stuck in Virginia during a snowstorm that closed basically every road and knocked out power to a large part of the state. I am grateful that I had family and friends looking out for me, who let me know that the roads up ahead were closed due to unsafe conditions, accidents, and abandoned vehicles. They were able to secure me a hotel room to wait for the roads to be cleared. But when I arrived my dog, Lilo, was turned away because of her size! We drove back south for miles (because the north was closed and without power) trying to find a place to stay. Finally after hours and getting stuck for brief periods of time, they were able to secure us a place to stay for the night, right back where we originally got off I-95. And when we got up the next morning, we discovered that the roads were still closed!

I-95 was completely blocked by cars, with families in them, who had been stuck for almost 20 hours at that point. While the side roads were clearer, they too had a number of hazards that only increased as people tried to get around the I-95 mess. I know it took me 7 hours to go 60 miles, and from what I’ve heard, there were still people stuck in their cars as of Wednesday afternoon, with no food, no water, and little to no gas. The area was still without power, and there was no gas or food available. Rescue efforts were taking place, but they were taking time due to the sheer number of people who needed help.

It started me thinking, not just how grateful I am for my support circle, but if I hadn’t had them, what would have happened? I would have likely been stuck on I-95 too. Luckily, I always travel with at least a gallon of water and snacks, but that would have eventually run out. In those moments where my car did get stuck, I had no shovel to help me and had to rely on the power of prayer. I didn’t have waterproof or resistant shoes. I quickly learned how important those things were as I watched others have to dig themselves out, and felt my toes go numb as I pumped gas in the snow that was soaking through my shoes.

I’ll tell you what though- as I type this, we are anticipating more snow and you can bet I am putting a spare blanket, snow shovel, extra water, and keeping my snow boots with me if I leave the house. I will likely not be caught unprepared for a few years.

So, because I’m a Pastor and this is not a just a place for you to hear my ramblings about life but to hear how I connect them to God, I have to wonder what it might look like to be spiritually prepared for the new year and the storms that come our way. Certainly being comfortable enough to pray is helpful, but what about the prep? What acts as our food, water, gas, blankets, and waterproof gear in our walk with God?

I know for me, I need to have a musical outlet to connect with God to fuel me and keep me warm. I know I need to engage in disciplines such as reading scripture, partaking in communion, and remembering my baptism regularly. I know I need to have conversations with God, and with others, about where God might be calling me to respond to the world. I know I need my community to keep me grounded and safe.

As we enter 2022, we will be spending time in worship intentionally looking to reset our souls, our purpose, our values, and our direction. During that time, we will be exploring who we are as children of God, be reminded to love, to be different from the world, and to sometimes take on new adventures. Some of this time will be gathering up the things we need to be prepared for  the storms. Some of this time will be simply acknowledging what we need. But all of this time will be reclaiming who we are as beloved children of God.

Comment your thoughts below!

Blessings friends,
Pastor Nicole