Carol and I have been on the road since July 30. Throughout portions of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington, we breathed smoke from forest fires, and I had to take allergy pills to reduce sneezing.
In early October, the smoke had cleared out of western Washington where we were staying, but something changed. In mid-October we felt the cold hand of winter tapping us on the shoulder, so we made plans to head south. By Nov. 1, we heard that snow was on its way, so we packed up and left.
Heading down through Oregon, snow was no threat but rainy weather descended upon us. We had many days of sunshine and we enjoyed the trip, but rain was becoming more prevalent. We renewed our plans to head south to sunny California.
On Nov. 17, our son (Ron) and his family moved to Mountain Ranch, just 16 miles east of San Andreas, Calif., so we went to visit them. Now in California, we were south of wintry Washington and rainy Oregon. We are not classified as Snow-Birds, but we do prefer a little warmer and drier climate.
I grew up in California, and winters on the golden coast were normally mild. For example: In February of 1993 we returned to Southern California for my grandmother's funeral. Our 10-year-old son, Michael, said, "Dad, a California winter is like a New Mexico summer!" I laughed and said, "You're right." (Our home in New Mexico was at 7,830 feet above sea level.)
Back to the trip.
I had planned to stay in Northern California only through December. But Walt Hammonds, the pastor of Grace Fellowship in San Andreas, asked me to teach on the Beatitudes (found in Matthew 5:1-12), so we stayed another month. Ron has a full-hookup on his property for our trailer, so we got settled in and really enjoyed the time with Ron, his wife Tanya, and their family.
California had been in a drought for a number of years so we were surprised to hear that a heavy rainstorm was on its way. That would be okay because, based on history, it wouldn't last long, and the state needed the water.
But we got pounded! Rain came fast and furious. Any roof that could leak DID leak, some houses slid into rivers, and mud-slides had to be removed from many streets. Our trailer was rocked by heavy rain and wind, but we survived the onslaught.
Then my cell phone warned me: "Weather Alert -- Winter Advisory in effect for the next 48 hours. Snow accumulation of two to four inches."
Ron said that might be an exaggeration because they haven't received much snow for about 12-15 years. Good. Nothing to worry about.
But within the next 36 hours, we received 16 inches of heavy, wet snow. California needed the snow-pack for its water supply, but it made things difficult for us. Snow-laden trees toppled onto power lines, and electrical power was out for almost a week. I made plans to move south as soon as I completed the Bible series. (Power was restored, but with damaged trees, branches kept falling and power was intermittent for two more weeks.)
By Feb. 5, the snow had melted enough to allow me to pull the trailer off the property and down the mountain. So, with another winter advisory set for Feb. 7, we pulled out on the sixth, and we headed for Bakersfield, Calif.
We wanted to stay in Bakersfield for two nights; but a portion of Interstate-5 called Tejon Pass is over 4,100 feet, and snow was predicted in two days. We stayed one night.
We reached Oak Grove, Calif. -- adjacent to Palomar Mountain -- where Vera and Jon Nelson, my sister and brother-in-law, live; and breathing a sigh of relief, I said, "We are finally out of the weather."
That was a misunderstanding!
On Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, our area got the heaviest rain storm on record with more than six inches of rain in two days. Roads washed out and several bridges were ripped up.
Where am I going with this tale-of-weather-woes?
Simply this: We cannot always escape problems -- weather or otherwise. Whatever we're facing, we must pray for guidance and wisdom. We are told in 1 Peter 5:7 to give our worries to the Lord because he cares for us. If we keep a cheerful outlook and trust the Lord, He will guide us.
We're off to the San Diego Zoo now. We have sunny skies -- so far.
-- Gene Linzey is a speaker, author and mentor. Send comments and questions to [email protected]. Visit his website at www.genelinzey.com. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Religion on 03/06/2019