I have always been a fan of “Groundhog Day”. Always. Even as a kid I found it interesting to think that a rodent could predict the course of our weather. Then I married, move to Massachusetts & bought a home. No more concrete backyard. Under our shed, has lived my very own groundhog. My interest only grew.
As you know, yesterday was Groundhog Day. For the record:
The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club made their decree Thursday morning in central Pennsylvania: Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, and there’ll be six more weeks of winter. The announcement was met with boos from the enormous crowd gathered in Punxsutawney.
That poor groundhog – he never can please everyone. Skiers love him. Sunbathers hate him. But we all look to see what he can say. But really. Even if we were to truly have six more weeks of winter, can we really boo or complain? This has been a wonderful winter in terms of snow and/or cold temperatures.
Do we truly think that “Phil” can determine the course of our weather?
Of our winter season?
Of the next six weeks?
As I have been thinking on this, I realized that there is only One who knows my future:
- “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4: 13-15 NIV).
- “You (God) have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” (Job 14:4 NLT).
- “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NLT).
What does this come down to?
Phil or no Phil.
Groundhog or no groundhog.
Shadow or no shadow.
There is only One who knows. There is only One who is sovereign – over it all.
