“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” -Psalm 145:9
Winter has arrived. The past few weeks have brought bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snow and ice. On the weekend of January 4, an inch of ice first fell in Overland Park, Kansas. The temperatures continued to plummet, and the precipitation eventually turned to snow. What started as an ice storm eventually turned into a blizzard. Eventually, over a foot of snow was recorded in the area.
When the storm passed and the sun once again shined through the clouds, the people began to dig their way out of their driveways. Shoveling snow is difficult work. One man was busy clearing his drive when he suddenly felt sick. Unfortunately, he was having a heart attack. The paramedics were called. They responded quickly and were able to stabilize and transport the man to a local hospital.
While the man was being transported to the hospital, the local fire crew, which had also responded, stayed behind to finish shoveling the driveway. They were soon joined by another local fire crew. They finished the drive in no time. The Overland Park Fire Department said this act was done because they are committed to “serving with compassion.”
From Overland Park to Los Angeles, we have seen our first responders serving with compassion. They deserve our gratitude and our support. In addition to the lifesaving work they perform daily, they also set an example for us. We are also called to a life of service. When our neighbors are in need, we respond. We might be needed to shovel a snowy driveway or something completely different. As a people of faith, we are driven by love, the same compassionate love God has for us.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
