Doing what comes unnaturally…or challenging assumptions.

This morning was the first significant snowfall of this winter. As I came in to the office, our secretary mentioned that it would be a perfect day to cuddle up in a blanket next to the window with a good book. While the women of our family agree that this is the type of day best spent “hunkering down” the men had a different idea! We got up earlier than usual, bundled up and chose to serve our neighbors!

(Full disclosure statement: We just bought a new snowblower so the motivation was more because of the testosterone release of men working with a new power tool than it was in the satisfaction of helping others!)

Now back to the story…after finishing our drive and walkway I cleared the driveway entries where the street plows had piled snow for 4 of our neighbors and cleared the front sidewalk for an elderly couple across the street. The point is that we did not do “what comes naturally”

Yesterday I overheard a couple of families talking about seeing each other at their small group meeting that will be held this evening. One of the individuals had assumed that the group would not be meeting because of the holidays.

I think we often assume people are busy so we think we are doing people a favor by cancelling classes or group meetings. In reality, we may be perpetuating the problem where the “head cheerleader never has a date to prom because everybody assumes she’s already been asked.”

Naturally, a cold day when it gets dark early makes us want to seclude ourselves in our comfortable homes and we assume others may want to retreat to their own homes also. But the holidays and the cold weather provide great opportunities to encourage one another personally, with a phone call, with a personal note or email to the individual members of your group/class.

SAD (seasonal affective disorder) caused by the lack of sunlight and Vitamin D is a very real concern here in the upper Midwest. Some respond with supplements or tanning beds. I wonder if Hebrews 10:25 might be relevant (“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”). I’m not talking about Sunday morning attendance, I’m suggesting we take steps to encourage one another!