Daddy, why did God turn the power off?

I had this question asked of me on Saturday night after a Friday night of the electricity being knocked off because of the ice. Pretty easy answer, right?

I was going to start with something real good like, “because.” Not going to work! Or, “it just happens sometimes.” Oh really, David? Sometimes it just gets the perfect temperature, not a degree too hot, or a degree too cold, and 2 inches of ice just “sometimes happens!” I know the real question was, “is the electricity going to go out again,” but it surfaced in a pretty “deep” way of “why did God make the ice storm?” After much convincing that mommy and daddy would be in the next room if he needed us, many trips down the hall saying “I’m scared,” and borrowing daddy’s new rechargeable flashlight, Taylor finally got to sleep on Saturday night. But it got me to thinking. . . “why did God cause this ice storm to happen.”

I have been thinking about it for quite a few days now. I don’t have a real good answer, except a few that I gave Taylor on Saturday night in my feeble attempt to wrap my brain around the events of the last week.

First, I told him, it is a way for Him to show HIS power is greater than anything we can imagine. In helping clean up some folks’ yard this week, I can’t recount how many times (seems like at least a hundred) I said or heard “unbelievable!” or “wow!” None of those references were to, “wow, look at what WE did.” They were all in reference to God’s display of His power in nature.

Secondly, I said it forces us to stop and take an inventory of what is truly important to us–mainly relationships, family. . . people, not stuff. We have all experienced the call from the caring friend or church member inquiring if we are “doing alright?” I had one of our friends of Finley Crossings, Hayward Barnett (my 7th grade Earth Science teacher. . . whether he claims me or not!) sent me an email the other day explaining this spirit shown to him during the storm.

David, good, cold, wintry, Monday morning. Even so, “this is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

I’m sorry the weather did not cooperate for the first Saturday CORE gathering, but He who is in charge of the weather is also in charge of Regeneration and visa versa. So, “all things work together for good…..” I was planning on attending. Daniel was going to pick me up since I do not drive at night anymore. He is going to do this for the other three Saturdays.

I have already experienced the fruits of Regeneration and the caring of CFC as a result of the ice storm which I would like to share. When Daniel became aware of the fact that the Baptist Home did not have emergency provisions for power outages for those of us living in the apartments and I did not have any family to call upon, he immediately went into action. In no time he was making arrangements for me to come to his home if necessary. He had purchased a generator and would be having power. As it turned out, the power outage was intermittent over the three days so we were able to remain in our apartment and were not in need of Daniel’s generosity. Even so, at one point early on, Daniel had gone as far as braving the elements and was in my driveway in his black truck ready to pick me up.

That is the reason I can say that, for me at least, Regeneration at CFC is more than just a catch word or sound bite. You guys are super!

An finally, I told Taylor that sometimes things like this ice storm brings the best out in people. We drop the less important things for the important things. Neighbors help each other out and give sacrificially of their time as well as treasures. What is really funny is that in every neighborhood I have been to since the ice storm, there is always a group of neighbors out “talking over the fence.” My in-laws were next door at their neighbors’ house for a visit after picking up downed tree limbs. My mother-in-law said, “we should get together more often. . . when our power is on and we are warm!”

Isn’t it funny that these types of catastrophes bring communities together? I am so proud of the CFC staff that has been on the phone to see if people need help and then going out and providing that help. Way to go! But you know, they have received just as much of a blessing, if not more, than the people that they have helped. So maybe that is why “God turned the power off.” To help us focus on Him, and the people (all people) that He loves.