Wind and Trees and Strength

We were in Oklahoma and Kansas to watch Caitlin play basketball over the weekend, and it was COLD! 7 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday morning... but it wasn't the temperature so much as the wind... the flag outside the Hampton Inn was standing at attention every time I saw it.

And it made me think of a quote from J. Willard Marriott, founder of the Marriott Hotel chain:

"Good timber does not grow with ease;

the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees."

I know it's cliche, but it is important to understand that we are built and strengthened by the trials we face... the unwelcome winds that blow in our lives...

I still really really hate wind... especially when the word 'chill' is attached to it. But I do understand at least a part of its function...

It makes trees stronger...as do the trials that come our way...

Friday night the York College wrestling team was traveling to a match when the van in which the team was riding wrecked. As the van rolled, one of the passengers, Brock Pigorsch, was ejected from the vehicle and killed.

I cannot begin to imagine what his family is feeling right now. And indeed it seems trite to apply the 'wind-trees-strength' analogy to this tragedy...

but, at some point, the application will be made... and this family will likely be stronger... some day. For now, my prayer is that God send His Spirit to comfort Brock's family... and that they will pull together to face the unimaginable task of moving forward without their son/brother/uncle/grandson.

Please say a prayer today for the Pigorsch family.