The young ones will tell you how older people’s Public Display of Affection irritates them.  But today it was my turn to be wooed, and it felt amazing!

It was actually quite a strange weekend.

Midmorning on Friday I left on a four-hour drive to Yorkshire for a show jumping event.  Early on Saturday morning, it was cancelled – the high winds and snow made it too risky for both horse and rider.

To be honest:  I was silently relieved that I wouldn’t have to face Storm Arwen!  So, I buried myself in at the hotel and thanked God for electricity and heat.  I would only find out later that more than 200,000 people were left stranded without power for more than 24 hours.

By Sunday morning around 11h00 it seemed the ice on the roads had melted and I braved the trip home. After a very peculiar solo dance performance in the parking area in front of the restaurant at breakfast, my nerves were on high alert for the journey.

Just like a responsible first-time-snow-driver I first read up on what the experts had to say.  I didn’t even know it was a rule of the road, but it makes sense:  Before you pull away, you have to be able to see clearly through all of the windows of your car.  Luckily, I just threw a new ice scraper in my car this past week, since Astra seems more white than silver this morning.

They also recommend that you scrape the snow and ice from your car’s roof before you leave, as this may shift and land on your windscreen while driving.

All done, and I’m off.

Cautiously, with the snowflake button engaged so that I could pull away in a higher gear, I ascend the motorway.  My small little Vauxhall Astra a mere pimple among all the snow skilled 4×4 vehicles around me.

I have done all I could.

I have read and learned how to handle this situation.

I did all that the experts ordered and advised.

Now all I could do was to trust the Lord.

And as the electronic notice boards on the side of the road flashes with SALT DISTRIBUTION, I feel the Lord hugging me for the first time.

It is called “black ice” and it can be extremely dangerous since you can’t really see it on the roads.  If you hit it, it can be very easy to lose control.

Salt lowers the freezing temperature of water and keeps ice from forming on the road surface.  The more salt is used, the colder it has to get before the snow will freeze.

And I breathe a bit easier.

Until a black Audi Q4 charges past me, a solid block of ice, probably around 20cm deep, covering the whole roof.  As he passes, pieces of ice falls away, hitting other cars and windscreens.

Totally irresponsible, was my first thought, but also such a heavy load to bear.

Do we ever realise the impact our less than wise decisions have on those around us?

How heavy is the load we often don’t have to bear.

Just then a bridge appears, and the Lord hugs me for the second time.

It was my first sighting of a massive ice-scraper-salt-distributor truck, crossing the bridge from east to west.

The Lord didn’t just set me off on this road and then stood back to see when I would crash.

He has already been where I was going, He has already removed the stumbling blocks of ice, He has already salted the road for my approach.

Here, for me and my Astra, but also daily – wherever my feet may lead.

As another flashing SALT DISTRIBUTION sign appears, the thought crosses my mind how the Lord is busy with me too this year.

Salt to get rid of the bad and to wash the wounds.

Healing manoeuvres, although it may hurt at times.

And just before we enter Oxfordshire I see another massive ice-scraper-salt-distributor truck and as I overtake it, I flick on my hazards to say thank you…

For we are moving in the same direction now.

Yes, all is well.

Jesus loves me, this I know…

“The Lord is good,

A strength and stronghold in the day of trouble;

He knows [He recognizes, cares for, and understands fully]

those who take refuge and trust in Him.”

Nahum 1:7 AMP

Your inspiration for the week:  Falling in love