Preparing For The Season

Since arriving in Alaska  two months ago, I have been advised of and implemented a number of strategies to prepare for the upcoming winter season. I have purchased a new set of Blizzak tires, perfect for the Alaskan driving conditions and have already had them switched out with my “summer set.” I scheduled and completed an appointment to have a block heater and auto-start installed on the pickup along with other winterization tasks for the vehicle two weeks ago. I cleared out the garage of all moving boxes and other items so that the pickup fits in the garage with the door closed, and the garage heater is working properly.

I have purchased snow pants, coats, gloves, and hats for the kids. I finally crossed snow boots off of my shopping list and have even purchased dog boots for Libby so that her little paws won’t get caked with snow pack when she goes outside this winter.  I am still debating about a doggy coat but have one sitting in my online shopping cart just in case.  I have begun training her to be an inside dog as I was told there is “no such thing as an outside dog in Alaska unless ‘Alaskan’ is in their name.”

Three weeks ago,  I heard a lady explain that she got all of her Christmas lights put up and that if I have any lights or other decor that I am planning to display this holiday season, I had better get started. I asked someone else about my candy cane lights. I really do not want candy cane poles all along my yard from now until April. She assured me that there should be enough hard packed snow by Thanksgiving that I will be able to stick the poles in the snow and don’t even worry about getting them actually in the ground.

I have attended the Welcome to Winter briefing offered here at Fort Wainwright and sat through two hours of detailed information about winter survival kits, staying active even when it’s dark and -40 degrees, and how to keep my children and pet safe from contact frostbite. I think…I hope…I am ready.  With all of this information and all these tasks accomplished, I feel pretty good about things, but I still don’t quite know what to expect.  All I can do is stay ready and face the winter day by day.

As I have been preparing, God has spoken to my heart about preparing for the winter seasons of our spiritual lives.  In His Word, He tells us that we will experience times much like the seasons of earth…times of new growth, a fresh start…times of sunny days and blue skies…times of change…and yes, times that appear cold, dark, and lifeless.  Jesus Himself said, “In this world, you will have trouble…” so it should be no surprise when we enter a period of winter.  The key, though, is to be prepared for it.  Proverbs 6:6-8 tells us to prepare for these times, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!  It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,   yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”  During the times of life that seem like spring and summer… the times when we feel like we have not a care in the world…those are the times that we should celebrate the season but also keep in mind that a new season will come.  We must be vigilant to stay connected to the Lord during the times of plenty so that we are already connected and prepared during the times of drought.  We must be in His Word during times of growth so that we are prepared with strength and comfort in times when we feel like we are lying fallow.  Just like I needed a new set of winter tires BEFORE the first snow, I need to be prepared for whatever season is coming BEFORE it arrives.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:   a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to      uproot,   a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,   a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,   a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,  a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,   a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,   a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

And so the question I must ask myself is “Am I prepared for my time?”