Of the cities in the world with the greatest snowfalls, 3 are in New York, 3 in Japan, and two are in Canada. I grew up in N.E Ohio where they also suffer the same lake-effect snowfalls that Buffalo and Rochester experience. But it didn’t seem such a problem then; I was young and innocent and thought it was fun. I left, however, soon after that, and have no desire to go back.
In late Sept my dad would begin to fill up the basement with coal (basements, or cellars, as pictured above, are the rooms Yankees have beneath their houses). Hopefully by late Oct he would have enough stored up to last thru the winter. Guess who got to go down there every day and shovel it into the giant, fire breathing, smoke belching furnace? Yep.
Winter. We all knew what was coming, and we all got ready for it. Below zero temperatures were not to be trifled with. They could quickly become a life and death matter.
Death is another thing that is as certain as snow. And can not be ignored. I’m thinking death should weigh even more than a shovel full of wet snow. But most of us, until we pass 40, think we are invincible. But we aren’t. By the time we figure that out it is often too late.
Here are three indisputable facts. Take it from a Yankee past 40;
a) Life is good b) death is certain c) eternity is forever.
Eternity can be spent in one of two places; A.) A warm place where everybody loves you, or, B.) A warmer place where shoveling coal into a hellfire never ends. I’ve paid my dues on the wrong end of a coal shovel, so I have given my life to Jesus. I am fully prepared.
When the final day comes, those who did not prepare will be told,.. ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. Mt 25: 31-46.
You can have Jesus, or you can have my shovel. It’s up to you. But don’t tarry, there’s a definite nip in the air.
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