I love this time of year in Idaho. Some days are winter, some are almost spring-like. It can be confusing at times to wake up to snow when we were walking outside in shirtsleeves the day before. It was pretty cold last Monday, and overnight we got 3-4” of new snow in Caldwell. It continued snowing throughout the morning. I had to get lab work done at 8 AM and then off to the bank and Walmart, so I put the Jeep in 4-wheel drive and headed out. I took my time, reminding myself that 4-wheel drive helps you go but doesn’t help you stop!
In the Walmart parking lot, I was met by employees in heavy coats spreading ice melt and shoveling out the basket return areas and clearing the walkways around the handicapped parking. When I walked into the store I started to laugh. At the entrance against one wall were stacks of snow shovels and ice melt. On the opposite wall someone had recently set up a display of summer patio furniture, BBQs, and beach toys. I know it’s getting a bit warmer each week, but we still aren’t to the place where we are ready for beach toys!
Anticipation! Walmart knows springtime and summer will come and they are making preparation for when they do arrive. They don’t want to be caught unawares or unprepared when people want patio furniture or beach balls.
Temptation! We need to be aware that it will come, and we should be preparing now for when it does arrive. We need to decide what we should be doing, or not doing. We need to know our vulnerabilities and have made plans to shore up those areas where we are most often tempted. Jesus warned us to “Watch and pray so that [we] will not fall into temptation.” [Matthew 26:41]
Watch! That means to be aware that we will be tempted and must be prepared to handle it.
