God’s Recovery Team — Welcome to Oklahoma — Birthplace of the BlizzaFloodQuakeNado
It warmed up to melt ALL that big snow (about an inch) in Tulsa and tomorrow, the weather guy is forecasting 70 degrees. Since Oklahoma was our home for 38 years, I can vouch for the authenticity of this sign in the photo, as well as the distinct four seasons that could happen in a week, accompany all those weather conditions. Sounds humorous, but we’ve seen some devastating results from those conditions. During those times, we witnessed the incredible humanity and rescue efforts of Oklahoma’s citizens.
I posted about the sprinkling of snow in Tulsa on Friday. I was so amused when this Facebook Group popped up in my newsfeed. “Oklahoma Winter Recovery” — not because of the great idea of people helping people, but having lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada for seven years, with its 40+ below temperatures, over 30 inches of snow, and remembering that Winter Recovery there included plugging our cars’ heaters in at night, being always prepared to shovel snow off of cars and driveways, and dressing in many layers. The City of Winnipeg was resilient in handling the abundance of snow. Their snow remover vehicles had the streets cleared long before we needed to drive to work. I was also amused that the Tulsa schools were closed on Friday. If they did that in Winnipeg, school would be out for the entire winter.
It warmed up to melt ALL that big snow (about an inch) in Tulsa and tomorrow, the weather guy is forecasting 70 degrees. Since Oklahoma was our home for 38 years, I can vouch for the authenticity of this sign in the photo, as well as the distinct four seasons that could happen in a week, accompany all those weather conditions. Sounds humorous, but we’ve seen some devastating results from those conditions. During those times, we witnessed the incredible humanity and rescue efforts of Oklahoma’s citizens.
I posted about the sprinkling of snow in Tulsa on Friday. I was so amused when this Facebook Group popped up in my newsfeed. “Oklahoma Winter Recovery” — not because of the great idea of people helping people, but having lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada for seven years, with its 40+ below temperatures, over 30 inches of snow, and remembering that Winter Recovery there included plugging our cars’ heaters in at night, being always prepared to shovel snow off of cars and driveways, and dressing in many layers. The City of Winnipeg was resilient in handling the abundance of snow. Their snow remover vehicles had the streets cleared long before we needed to drive to work. I was also amused that the Tulsa schools were closed on Friday. If they did that in Winnipeg, school would be out for the entire winter.
This was a post I saw under the Oklahoma Winter Recovery Facebook Group — **At this time, please only post a new thread if you or someone else is stuck. This will help to keep the page easier to get assistance to the motorist** When posting about a vehicle that is stuck, please make sure to list the location, make and model of vehicle and at least one good phone number (either yours or the stranded motorist if you personally know them). This will help in getting assistance more easily and quickly, and this way it will be known whether or not they have been rescued already, so that someone else does not head that way. If you have Google Maps on your phone, drop a pin. This will also help determine the exact location. Be excellent. Make good choices.”
Impressive, right? Technology provides for people helping people — and caring enough about their fellow man that they set up a place for support and help during winter storms. Isn’t that the mentality and heart for having an attitude to serve and help others.
Helping others is such a great diversion from so much negavity in social media, the news and even those who are bound and determined to look at the “glass half empty”. Doesn’t it makesense for us to rewind, reload, and shoot some straight arrows toward targets that sincerely make a difference. Instead of being relentless to look for something else to complain about, wouldn’t it be great to refocus on matters that matter? Matters like doing what we can to serve and support each other; doing what we can to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves” (Matthew 22:39); and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Luke 6:31).
Just maybe our little caring “stone” could cause a ripple effect to a world that needs role models and examples of TRUE Christianity. TRUE Christianity is when our love for Christ is at the core of our life and He becomes so bright in us that we radiate that love and light to others in how we live, how we talk AND walk. So much so, that we can’t help ourselves….we see a need, we desire to meet it. We see someone hurting, we endeavor to ease the pain. We act like Him….He Who was willing to model “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13).
Maybe it’s time when we ALL could enlist for being a recruit on God’s Recovery Team!