We’ve had several weeks of wintery weather which here means subzero temperatures, lingering snow, windchill warnings, and ice. The ice is of particular concern because it hides in plain sight, lurking around the corners and edges especially, to catch the unwary and slide them right on over.
My husband is pretty diligent about making sure we have some sort of ice melt stuff (that’s the official name: ice melt stuff) to spread on the sidewalk and the front steps. While this gets tracked into the house leave crystallized puddles and creative tracks, it does keep visitors upright for the most part.
But every so often a space sneaks in, a place where unexpectedly there is ice. I found one of those spots today ironically after having just spread ice melt stuff in the usual places. I did wonder for a few minutes how on earth I was going to right myself without re-engaging with what landed me on the ground in the first place.
Isn’t this sneakiness like so many places in our lives? We think we are all prepared and safe, that we are good to go. Then, whoosh, there go our feet right out from under us. And we wonder how on earth we are going to right ourselves.
We reach out for the nearest stability. A friend, a family member, a neighbor, a door jam. Whatever God has put close by or drawn close to us in the moment and for that moment.
If you ever wonder why someone or something is part of your life, it may just be they are God’s rescue for an icy patch.
Or you are theirs.
Just Sayin' 