By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
While I love the change of seasons in the Midwest, winter is my least favorite time of year. With temperatures dipping into the single digits and even past the below zero mark, the frosty months are unbearable for warm weather enthusiasts like me. If global warming truly exists, we have yet to see it hit the southeast border of Indiana.
I tolerate the cold throughout the holidays, but after December 25th, I’m ready for spring! The drudgery of winter causes my bones to ache, my skin to dry, and my happiness to fade. (I’m beginning to understand why seniors migrate south for the winter.)
In an effort to make frigid temperatures more bearable when we’re held up in the house, my husband made a change to our home’s central heating system. When we had our home built thirteen years ago, we realized the builder had not installed return vents on the finished side of our basement. While the absence of return vents was not a code violation, it was definitely not the most efficient way to heat our home.
It seemed that no matter how much warm air was pumped into the space, the basement still felt cold. Gerry explained the reason why. Without the proper exchange of air circulation (pumping warm air in and pulling cold air out) the furnace was inefficient.
Like a heating/cooling system in a home, when it comes to our spiritual lives, we are most effective in our walk with God when we have the proper balance of in and out.
We can spend time praying to God, reading our Bibles, and growing in Christ, but if we aren’t taking time to pour ourselves out by loving and serving others, we lose our ability to impact the world around us.
That which we learn, we should teach. That which we experience, we should impart. Because we have received love, mercy, and grace, we are called to extend love, mercy, and grace. Because God forgave us, we need to forgive others.
Who knows! The great exchange of love and mercy that we impart to others just might bring about the kind of global warming effect this world really needs.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)
Give, and it will be given to you… For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)
