Few things seem to put man back in his place like the weather; it is the one thing that cannot be coaxed, bribed, cajoled or threatened to behave. Without weather extremes and inconveniences, would it still be possible for mankind to understand that they are not masters of this green Earth – God is? And again, without extreme weather, would people still appreciate the beauty of a perfect day? Christians may need to be reminded from time to time of their dependence and humility to God, and bad weather will certainly cause undivided attention. From tornadoes to heat waves, mankind is helpless.
Mark Twain was well known as both a Christian and as a wit who had many things to say about the weather. While writing a letter to his wife Olivia, he stated,
And so, after all my labor and persuasion to get you to at last promise to take a week's holiday and go off with me on a lark, this is what Providence has gone and done about it. It does seem to me the oddest thing--the way Providence manages. A mere simple request to you to stay at home would have been entirely sufficient; but no, that is not big enough, picturesque enough--a blizzard's the idea; pour down all the snow in stock, turn loose all the winds, bring a whole continent to a stand-still: that is Providence's idea of the correct way to trump a person's trick. If I had known it was going to make all this trouble and cost all these millions, I never would have said anything about your going. Now in the light of this revelation of the methods of Providence, consider Noah's flood--I wish I knew the real reason for playing that cataclysm on the public: likely enough, somebody who liked dry weather wanted to take a walk. That is probably the whole thing--and nothing more to it.
Like Mr. Twain, many people seem to find, both humorously and seriously, proof of God in something as simple as the caprices of weather. God’s gift to Noah, the rainbow, was enough proof for Noah. Faith hinges on the small things as well as the great, and may mean just as much in the long run. Having faith in a God who watches over mankind may also mean having faith that he is in charge of the rain or snow that falls on mankind as well.
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