WHAT DID YOU DO THE WEEK OF THE BLIZZARD? Here’s our story:
After stopping at a Vermont birthday party for a taste of love and friendship, we headed for Strasburg, PA, and the Sight & Sound production of Jonah. Our tickets were for…umm…the day of the blizzard. However, they shifted us to the Wednesday presentation.
And what a show! Think 4-story stages on three sides of a 2000-seat theater. Enter into an off-stage, watery view of swimming creatures—Jonah among them—AND the giant fish that granted him three days to chew on his disobedience.
The day of the blizzard was itself an experience. The hotel’s snow-removal equipment amounted to a small bobcat with a short, straight plow that spilled as much as it plowed. Definitely not up for big storms.
What to do for food? The only place open was a gas station down the road that had a sort of restaurant. The snow had stopped, so we bundled against the icy wind and headed out. Less than gourmet food, but a pint of Häagen-Dazs compensated. Another taste of grace.
Good & Plenty fare
The next day, after the play, we rolled down to a neighboring Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant. Though not as fine as the famous Good and Plenty family-style eatery that had given us Monday’s feed, it was nearby—and open. Feeling poor, we opted for the Soup, Salad, and Bread bar. Good stuff. Jim, however, going back for seconds, forgot about the cheaper aspect and came back with a plateful of the grander smorgasbord. When the waiter came by, Jim “confessed his sins” and offered to pay the smorgasbord price. At first,
Hershey Farm smorgasbord
Mr. Splendid Waiter waved it off, but when I coughed at the free ride, he simply added a couple of “sides” to the bill.
That bit of grace tasted especially sweet.
Now we’re back home, dealing with sickly solar panels, a clogged dryer vent, endless tech phone calls. I can allow all that to swallow me, or I can opt for the grace that God provides, especially in the form of huge fish.
https://www.sight-sound.com/ticketing/shows/title “Our purpose is to present the Gospel…and sow the Word of God…by visualizing and dramatizing the scriptures.” For more about Sight & Sound, click the link and add it to your “bucket list.”
Tell me about your moments of grace. Do you ever have Jonah times? Please share them—below or by email. egus@me.com
I loved your story. You are a blessed writer, and I can’t match this one. Love you Ellie
Thanks much, Deb. God gives each of us good stories to tell, and even the bad ones have value. : )
Well, I was in Africa during the blizzard. Sweat dripped from my face just by standing. The lack of air movement made the heat seem even worse. Drought conditions surrounded me. All the plains and grassy areas were brown and if I walked on them, the brittle blades snapped beneath my feet. The leaves on the few trees hung limp and tired. The prayer for rain lingered on everyone’s lips. What a sad thing drought is. Food is scarce, and children cry. Parents desperate to feed their children snatch at anything that might be edible. Yet, Sunday comes, and the church is full. The people’s praises fill the room as they thank God for being good all the time. I left Africa early for home because of an eye infection. The trip was anything but pleasant and included being treated without mercy when my friend and I missed our connecting flight. Where was God? Why did it seem like He was not working on our behalf? I had to come to the realization that it does not matter what is happening in our lives. Nothing can separate me from Him. The injustice of the trip home did not mean that God was not with me. He has promised never to leave me or forsake me. He is in control, and for me, the lesson was realizing that God has given me abundant mercy through Jesus Christ and nothing, a blizzard, a drought, an unmerciful experience in an airport, can ever separate me from His love, His care, and His presence.