Nicole’s e-Pistle

January 15, 2025

Greetings, Friends!

On my way to work this morning, my favorite radio station’s morning show was talking about the pleasant affects La Niña has had on bringing winter weather to the southeastern United States. Being based in Tampa, two of the three hosts were enjoying the feeling of having a change in season, especially after a record year for hurricanes. In passing, they mentioned that La Niña has had the opposite affect on the Pacific Coast, being responsible for the dry air and high winds that became a breeding ground for the devastating fires in Southern California.

This brought to my mind the dichotomy of being able to enjoy something pleasant that causes pain or hardship to someone else. Many people feel a tinge of guilt when they are comfortable and safe when so many have lost everything. For some, it is a passing thought, whereas for others, it can be crippling. How are we, as Christians, to feel and respond to such times?

One answer, of course, is not to blame the victims of natural disaster, as though they are somehow being punished by a righteous God, “…for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). If there is blame to be found in humanity for the devastation, it is not a simple matter.

Another answer comes in finding ways to help. We as a congregation rallied around the Asheville area after Hurricane Helene. Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves what we can do in addition to praying for our neighbors in California to bring tangible relief to those affected.

Finally, rather than shrink away from the pleasantness of our North Georgia seasons, let us express our gratitude for the beauty of God’s creation around us – in the joy we find from watching a cardinal dig for seeds beneath powdery snow or in hearing the laughter of children throwing snowballs and building their first snowmen. Gratitude and contentment rise with the fragrance of spring, the warmth of summer, and the vibrancy of autumn.

We shall pray for those affected by the fires, and we shall reach out to them in spirit as they rebuild and find strength in their communities. May God be with them as He is with us. Amen.