On Snow Days & the Need for Grace

As a kid, I could not imagine what went into the decision to cancel school because of the weather. I simply wanted as many snow days school wanted to give me. I’d get upset if an expected snow day didn’t happen. There was nothing worse than going to sleep secure in your belief in a snow day, then waking up and seeing the forecast was wrong and school was happening. Oh, those mornings were the worst!

As someone who is now involved in calling snow days, I assert that making such a call is an imperfect science. In fact, it is an imperfect art. Why? Because there are so many variables to consider when deciding whether to cancel an event due to weather, especially an event called Sunday worship.

Think about it: there is the weather in the present, there’s the hourly forecast, and there’s also what has occurred in the last few hours such as change in temperature. Then, there’s the state of the roads, whether interstate highways, state highways, city and suburban streets, rural roads, etc. There is the demographic of the folks who will be driving, and whether it will be safe both in getting to the event and getting home after the event. And for some church events, i.e., an important all-church meeting where as much input as possible is important, there’s the variable of whether there’ll be enough people either officially (for a quorum) or for adequate input’s sake.

It is a tough game being responsible for snow cancellations. As mentioned, it is an imperfect science. It is also stressful knowing that people may be driving in hazardous conditions if you don’t call it, which can lead to severe results. Another adage comes to mind: better to be safe than sorry.

Sometimes, the calling of cancelation turns out to be a no-brainer. Sometimes, it is less clear and we wonder if the decision to call it was the correct one.

The old adage comes to mind: hindsight is 20/20. Well, if this is so, then foresight is less than 20/20.

Here’s where grace comes in. 

If there’s ever a need for grace, it is when someone’s sight is not and cannot be perfect.

I’ll admit, as a parent especially, it is tough not to grumble when a snow day is called and it turns out to be fine just an hour later. I’m not immune to grumbling in these situations. And I know it is tough to be completely grumble-free. No one expects perfection.

However, don’t forget grace in all of this!

Grace is the antidote to grumbling. If there’s a choice between grace and grumbling, choose grace! That’s what we do!

And if a grumble leaks out, no worries. Grace means forgiveness.

“’Tis grace that brought us safe thus far, and grace shall lead us home.”