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There is a lot about this life that makes Crankeverend (CR) cranky — and then there are the things that happen that just make CR sad.  One of the things about this life that is so difficult to understand is the chasm that remains between G-d and humanity.  One moment it feels as if G-d is so present — the next it seems G-d just could not care any less.  I understand that it is CR’s own feelings that are being projected onto G-d, but still, it hurts when we live in the chaos of life — and there seems to be no life raft around.  It is during the tragedies of life where CR feels most vulnerable to the indiscriminate nature of things.  Jesus promises to be with us to the end of the ages, and yet sometimes we all just feel so…….alone. 

Two things happened this month that has CR just feeling sad, and yes, cranky.  There is the snow squall that occurred on I-78 that resulted in 3 deaths, many, many injuries and cars and trucks piled together like a Jackson Pollock painting.  Someone posted a picture on Facebook that, without initially knowing it, showed two people in the twisted metal of the wreck, the roof of their car peeled back, and anguish on their faces.   One moment you are driving to see your grand children or to return home from a trip, the next moment –death.  

The other thing that happened again revolves around the fragility of life.  This time a friend’s wife was struck by a car and killed while taking a walk.  One moment someone says “I’ll be back soon” – the next moment, they are gone.  In an instant our lives can take a right turn that changes the course of our lives forever.  And when we all scream “G-d why have your forsaken us?” we wait for the answer — and we are still waiting.  

I think Paul said it best — “we see in a mirror dimly”, but one day we will see face to face.  But also one day we should understand the perceived randomness of this life.  Until then, we need to tell the special people in our lives that we love them, and that they are special to us, every day…..every day.  Because one day they may leave to go see their grand kids, and they may not return.  Or one day they may leave to “run to the store”, and it may be their last run.   CR realizes this happens every day in this world, over and over and over again, and yet it doesn’t take away the mystery of it all.   The questions that run through our minds in these situations are things like: “Where is G-d?” and “Why doesn’t G-d care?”  

As a pastor, Crankeverend knows G-d does care — that G-d is with us always — that this world is a broken and fragile world.  This reality still doesn’t take away the pain and sorrow.  So, CR is sad — but in the end, CR knows that the love of Christ conquers all things — and that the mirror of this dim existence cannot fully display the light and luster of the life to come.

To all who are feeling the sting of death and separation in this world, this Cranky Reverend prays for G-d’s love, mercy and peace to fill us all….sometimes it is the only thing that keeps us putting one step in front of the other.

Crankeverend……….praying!

The big rat (my apologies to anyone who loves groundhogs) in Puxnsutawney better be right — there better be an early spring.  Crankeverend (CR) is done with cold weather, snow, darkness, and ice.  Yes, this weather is a blessing for the people who have businesses that rely on the cold, ice and snow.  It is not lost on CR that people rely on this kind of weather to make a living.  Maybe CR should just look to find a church in a different climate.

The main issue that CR has with winter is this: it is not only the cold, and snow, and ice, but the fact that the number of daylight hours are reduced significantly — this just sets up the opportunity for CR to really enter his “Cranky Zone”.  There are only so many episodes of “Fixer Upper” for CR to watch before he just loses his freezing mind.

For more years than Crankeverend cares to acknowledge he has sat outside at football games with snow around his feet, stood at the bus stop with blowing snow landing on his bald head, made snowmen with his kids, and walked the cross through town on freezing cold Good Fridays. Crankeverend has paid his dues…..what is G-d trying to tell CR?

If you are tired of cold, freezing weather give Crankeverend an Amen!

Now some of you will shout at your tiny screens “Quit your complaining and move already”.  Oh ye of little Crankiness.  That is not the Cranky way.  If CR had nothing to grumble about, where would he channel his grump?  For example, when CR woke up Sunday morning, as he was driving to the church, he glanced at the temperature reading in his car and it said it was 9 degrees outside.  Carrying his things from the car to the church CR may have been heard telling Jack Frost what he really thinks about the cold — but nobody would know because his lips were so cold he couldn’t form any words.  It’s warmer in my freezer than it is outside.  The folks in Alaska called asking us to give them their weather back.

I attended a graveside service the other day and there was an honor guard standing by with a bugler because the deceased was a veteran of the Air Force.  When the bugler began to play taps, you could actually see the notes falling out of the end of his bugle, like small snow flakes fluttering to the ground — it was that cold.

So, it is cold, and this Cranky Pastor is tired of it.  The end better be near…….

Crankeverend……..(he’s too cold to finish typing….)