Gas Pains and Good Things

It's been an interesting few days in metro Atlanta. We watched and prayed as Hurricane Ike devastated the Texas Gulf coast, and we knew that we would feel at least a temporary pinch in higher gas prices. The weekend Ike came ashore, gas prices jumped to over $4 a gallon, and some stations ran dry as people panicked and filled up every vehicle and gas can they owned. But by that Monday, things had calmed down, and while prices were still up, the supply seemed to be back to normal. So, I thought it a little strange when "my" gas station was closed on Friday, with all the pumps bagged and yellow caution tape encircling the station. As I drove Adam home from school, I noticed that other stations were closed, as well. One station still appeared to have premium, but at a premium price of over $5 a gallon. Still, I didn't get concerned until Saturday. We were supposed to go to Lake Allatoona to fish and have a cookout with our Cub Scout pack; I would need to put gas in the van in order to make the round trip. When my husband's business partner called to say that he was nearly out of gas and couldn't find a station that had any, we cancelled the activity and stayed home. I even considered not going to church on Sunday to ensure that I had gas to get Adam to school on Monday, but I could picture Satan doubled over laughing at that one, so we went anyway. Chuck was able to get gas for our other car Sunday afternoon, and we did find gas for the van on Monday. Still, supplies are low, and it's eerily reminiscent of the gas shortages in the early 70's (I remember waiting in those lines with my parents, and only being able to get gas on odd days based on our licence plate number). Rather than grumbling, I'm meditating on Phil. 4:8--"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." And I know that any circumstance can work to the good if we turn it over to God. So, I'm guessing that He's trying to slow us all down a bit; to help us really examine all that we do and pare it down to the essentials. We are so blessed in comparison to the rest of the world and so spoiled in comparison to first century Christians. Perhaps it's time to learn some restraint and to learn that being sacrificial isn't a bad thing. I do know that I'm driving around a lot less, and we are reading together, playing board games, and exploring the world around our home. Not a bad thing at all.