From Volume 9, Number 4, Spring 2003

Blizzard Reflections

By Angela Kantola

 Denver-area residents, especially those of us in the nearby foothill and mountain communities will remember the “Great Blizzard of March 2003” for years to come.  The Lord answered in abundance our prayers for snow in this drought-stricken state.  We had five feet of magnificent white stuff  at our Indian Hills home and spent 4-1/2 days without electrical power.

 In the time between coming home from Aidan Fellowship on Monday night and when we were able to leave our house again on Saturday, we discovered a whole new rhythm of prayer, work, and rest.  (Probably not new to the Amish, but certainly new to us!)

 Much of our prayer focused on the war with Iraq that began during this time.  Without electricity, we listened to the news just a few times a day on a battery-powered radio.  We prayed also for those stranded by the storm, but the radio news was dominated by war, so we knew little of how others were coping with the record snowfall.

 Work was transformed completely.  Unable to drive into the city or telecommute (no electricity), we could do none of our “ordinary work” (save to make phone calls to cancel a meeting).  But work we did – at about 5 days of “enforced weight-lifting.”  We don’t have a snow-blower, so with each shovel-full we strived to be thankful for the much-needed moisture.  It was hard, tiring work, but we knew the exercise was re-building muscles we’d neglected too long.  Our gas range allowed us to cook on the stovetop, but without oven, toaster, microwave, or indoor refrigeration, the task of feeding ourselves became another new challenge.

 Life was quickly pared down to basics – mostly eating, shoveling and sleeping.  Without electricity or adequate heat, our rhythm of activity and rest shifted to more closely match that of the natural light and dark.

 And then at about 7:00 o’clock on Sunday night, the electricity returned – with a vengeance.  The loud whir of the juice machine (whose switch had apparently been turned on accidentally during the power outage) startled us from our relaxed candle-lit reverie and signaled the return of “modern conveniences.”  I hurried to turn off the juicer, then we settled back into our contemplative relaxation.  The electrical power seemed an assault on our senses, and we let another half hour or so pass before we began to turn on lights, check our e-mail, and go about our “normal” routine.

 We survived the storm thankful for no real damage to home, trees, or vehicles, and found the whole experience restorative in many ways.  The break from computers during this time seemed a particular blessing, so we’ve mostly fasted from cyberspace on Sabbaths since.  We’re grateful for the moisture and the lesson – and the gift of a little more (real) space to be still and know that He is God.

Angela Kantola and her husband Don Wallace are the Colorado  representative of Opening the Book of Nature (http://creationethics.org/) and regular participants in the Colorado Aidan Fellowship.