Yesterday we traveled out to Fort Peck, a small town about 30 miles south of Glasgow, and along the way we crossed over the Milk River. Despite temperatures reaching into the 60's with bright, blue sunny skies, a severe weather advisory is still in affect. No, it is not an advisory warning us of a 60 degree temperature drop later tonight with a few inches of snow - although, it wouldn't be too surprising - but of rising flood waters from snowmelt. This Milk River runs along the south side of town, which is protected by a dyke that surrounds most of the town. There are many though that are not protected by this barrier created by the Army Corps of Engineers, like the one above, and are beyond its limits of safety.
As of right now, it appears that most are on high enough ground and out of the water. This week, due to higher temperatures, they are predicting a rise in water levels along the Milk River of about 2-3 ft in the Glasgow area and up to 9 ft in a town 14 miles east of Glasgow in Nashua. While some might be alright for now, within a week's time and continuing warm days like we've had and they might be having the river's water knockin' on their door, seeing if it can come in and stay awhile. That's definitely a possibility for the owner of the house in the above picture.
Growing up in the Church has brought many memories from its child program called Primary. Often times these memories are recalled while hearing a familiar song being sung by the children of the Church. One particular song seems all the more realistic now, with the warning of rising flood waters. The song is titled "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" and goes a little something like this:
The wise man built his house upon the rock, The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
And the snow came tumbling down . . .
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
And the snow came tumbling down . . .
Those who know this song, can you remember what happens next?
The snow melted down, and the floods came up,The snow melted down, and the floods came up,
The snow melted down, and the floods came up,
And the house on the sand washed away.
As for the wise man, this is what happened.
The snow melted down, and the floods came up,
The snow melted down, and the floods came up,
The snow melted down, and the floods came up,And the house on the rock stood still
While I took some liberty and some free will to change up the lyrics, the message remains the same and is a little more applicable to our situation here in Glasgow! Our foundations are our everything. It decides who we are, what we are made out of, and what we do. If you have ever run on sand then you know very well that it is by no means a "steady and sure foundation". With every stride you take you sink in and despite how much energy you put in to it, the task never becomes any easier. Your pace has slowed down, not because you can't run fast, but rather because of an unsteady foundation upon which you have brought yourself to.
Though there are those that will build upon that sandy foundation and wash away, that does not exclude those who have built their foundation, their character, and being on a sure and steady foundation, one rooted in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, from the floods.
"... For [God] maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Mathew 5:45)
One of the most profitable things about this life is that God allows us to be tried and tested.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:7-9)
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