The Big Dig
In 1991 the state of Massachusetts began a massive transportation project called the Big Dig. It is a series of roads and massive tunnels that would make travel easier and more efficient for Massachusetts travelers. It was and still is a massive project.
Today I experienced my own “Big Dig”. For those of you who don’t know, my family and I have relocated to Kalispell, MT where we are the youth pastors at New Covenant Fellowship. Previously in Virginia we never really experienced much snow and when we did, life just shuts down. Just the prediction of snow will send people into a panic that empties grocery stores of all bread and milk. Well, here in Montana snow is just another part of winter life and people just keep going. This year just happens to be way above average for snow. Maybe its just to welcome us and break us in quickly. It has pretty much not stopped snowing since we’ve been here except for maybe a few days here and there. We already had a base of about 20 inches or more. Then the forecast called for a (and I quote) “real snow event.” Well they were right. When I woke up there was an additional 20 inches on the ground and by the end of the day we had added another 8 inches to that. It was absolutely ridiculous. Beautiful, but ridiculous.
As I sit here typing, I am very tired and sore. I experienced my own Big Dig today probably spending over 3 hours of shoveling 3+ feet of snow. I’ve been experiencing the snow removal work out already but today was much more intense. Our van got stuck and I had to dig it out of the snow and get it back in the garage. We bought a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get around in this stuff and those are invincible, right? I was coming back to my house from having some work done on the Tahoe and saw the snow in our alleyway to our garage. “I can handle this” I thought to myself so I went for it. I made it about 100 yards before I piled up a wall of snow in front of my Tahoe that I could not surpass….I almost couldn’t open my door because of the snow depth and the snow was up to my waste…I’m 6’7″ so you do the math. That is at least 36 inches. I have been blessed with an awesome neighbor who helped me dig out from my ignorance and as we were shoveling for hours I had a thought.
How often in life do we get ourselves in a bad place as a result of a bad decision. It would be so easy to just give up and walk away but there is always a way out. It may take time and it may not be easy but there is always a way out.
God has big plans for our lives and our destiny is so much more important than our circumstances. The biggest tool to remove ourselves from the mess we’ve made is a tool we don’t even deserve and that is God’s grace. It is like a giant snow plow that comes to dig us out when we get stuck. Hopefully we learn from that mistake and don’t return to it but God’s love is bigger than our faithfulness. Today I spent hours digging my vehicles out of the deep snow but I didn’t give up, allowed some help and succeeded. You too can succeed in whatever circumstance you find yourself.
So I wanted to encourage you from my mistake today and hope that you realize that no matter what mess you are in, just don’t give up. Make right choices, work hard, allow others to help who offer and make room for God’s divine provision. God is faithful regardless of our lack of faithfulness and no mess is too big for God.
Now I’m going to take a couple of advil and watch ESPN. God bless!
good job bro! its awesome that you have the wisdom to see God in YOUR folly. have fun with that snow and keep up the posting, it makes you feel a little closer.
I will take this to heart next time we have 3 feet of snow. I do admire your ability to find a message of God’s grace in something as silly as driving your car through a 4 foot snow drift.
You just described 3/4 of a calendar year in upstate NY in the lovely snow belt where Kev & I grew up! OK that might be a little exageration. I heard from family they’ve accumulated 60″ so far. I’m proud to say I’m a woman driver with mad snow manuvering skills (if they’re still there – like riding a bicycle). Your story is a beautiful depiction of our destiny & God’s provision of grace! Way to go PC! & just think – no need for Advil!
Isn’t it amazing what we can link to and learn from the Father. When we’re looking we can find the principles of the Word of God in everything we do in life. It’s been a long time since I spent 3 hours shoveling snow and the memory wasn’t very pleasant at the time, but listening to the perils of my son has brought them back to mind.
Its interesting that we can find destiny in the everyday tasks that we face if we just look for the Lord in all our circumstances. If we will keep in mind that destiny isn’t a destination, but a journey, we will see God in all facets of our lives here on earth. Destiny is how we live. Destination is where we want to go, eternal life with the Lord.
Have a restful time on ESPN, Son. You’ve deserved it. Tell Cara to get you some leeway.
It is really nice to have you writing again, Pastor Craig! I really enjoy it… I agree with Ryan- it makes you feel closer.
I like what you wrote… you an see a lot of stuff that applies to us in everyday things! That is a big gift!
Craig, I’m not going to lie. I was never going to read this until I got online looking for things about PBC, and went to google and clicked images and typed in “portland bible college” and then a picture of you and your beautiful wife appeared! haha. So, I decided why not?
Love you Craig!!