This past Sunday was quite the day. I went up to H20ville (aka Watertown, SD) on Saturday night (my wife was adamant that the weather was supposed to be terrible and I shouldn’t go) so that I could wake up and preach 2 services in Watertown. I got up Sunday morning to large snow drifts, cold, and hurricane like winds (during winter, I question our ancestors’ intelligence daily).

I received a phone call from the pastor I was standing in for… letting me know that their services were cancelled and that I’d best hit the road if I wanted to make it to Sioux Falls… in order to preach at Embrace. I immediately got dressed, gathered my things, hugged my parents (my mom didn’t think I should go), and was given some hand warmers (from dad) and a small Ziploc full of candy (from my mom).

I climbed in my Saturn which was a complete icebox and headed for the interstate. It didn’t look that bad in town but as I got on the interstate… I left the glow of the streetlights and entered the Blizzard around 7:10am. It wasn’t even a half mile on the interstate when I began thinking the following thoughts: “What in the HECK am I doing?” “This was probably not the smartest idea Weber!” Other than the 30 – 40 mile an hour winds and the below 0 temps… there were mid sized snow drifts and 0 visibility… I found the yellow line on the side of the road and followed it…only to have it disappear into the snow after 5 miles…

I had no idea where I was on the road and was scared to death… worried that I’d be hit from behind. I pulled over to what I thought was the side of the interstate (seeing a car in the ditch right beside me)… and called dad (my greatest place of wisdom). He suggested I call 911 to let them know where I was… when I called there was a guy on the other end who couldn’t have been more relaxed (I’m not sure if he was drinking NyQuil straight from the bottle or if I had woken him with my call). I told him the last mile marker I saw (I was a Cub Scout for 2 years in Milbank) and he said “Do you think you can make it another mile… there’s a rest stop just a mile down the road.” I said “sure” (calmed by the NyQuil in his voice) and started off… looking for the reflectors on the side of the road… getting my directions screwed up until I saw the next reflector… (Did I mention I was scared out my mind?) As I passed car after car… semi after semi… in the ditch… (not seeing anyone else driving… except me) I knew I was getting close… I crossed a bridge (by God’s grace I chose the side with no snow compared to the side with 5 feet of it)…and could barely see the Rest Stop sign. Finally… I made it… there was the Rest Stop! I was overjoyed! (I had never been so happy in my life to see a Rest Stop!)

I grabbed a few things and went in… Although it didn’t have anything more than a water fountain and toilets (the Rest Stop across the road had wireless internet! Be grateful with what you’ve been given Adam)…I was thankful to be there…

The excitement of the Rest Stop didn’t last…. I went from dancing to thinking… “Now what?” Although it was only 8am… I knew I’d never make it to Sioux Falls by 6pm… I also knew that I probably wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I didn’t have a book to read… again, no wireless internet… and there’s only so long you can stare at a map of South Dakota… (note: I tried my hardest to ration my candy for the unending Blizzard but the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups were going fast.) Other than a few snowed in truckers that came to use the restroom… I was stuck with no one to speak with and nothing to do… I thought of list of things I needed to do… but for the first time in months… I really couldn’t do a thing…

The last few weeks…I’ve been rushing here, there, and everywhere (maybe you can relate)… As I sat on the stone bench (it was hard to lie down on), I began to wonder if this snow was God’s way of telling me to slow down… and spend some time with Him. I began to talk with Him… at first my words were… “alright God… I’m here… I'm bored... what do you wanna talk about.” And then it was more… “it’s been some time since I’ve really just sat with you, hasn’t it?” “I’m sorry it’s been so long… I’ve been so busy lately… that I’ve forgotten about you… What would you like to say to me? Lord I’m thankful for… I'm stressed with... I’m scared about… I’m struggling with… Lord, I’ve missed you… I’ve missed your presence…I love and adore you.”

I was in the rest stop for 5 hours and then I saw the Search and Rescue Snow Cat (a pretty sweet looking machine) pull up with a Suburban behind it… A guy came into the Rest Stop and said “Mr Weber, we’re hear to get ya.” (I went to school with the guy years earlier). By the time they came, I had already prepared myself to spend the next 24 hours in that small rest stop... a mini retreat and fast (except all the candy) The 5 hours were a blessing… just sitting with the Lord (I was actually sad when I saw Search and Rescue coming).

As I rode back to Watertown in the Suburban… my heart whispered…“thank you for the wonderful time I just had with you Lord….thank you for meeting me at the Rest Stop… oh and thanks for not letting me freeze to death as well.”

Rest Stop.

psalm 117 Mark 4