Trial By Ice
In VanBuren County
By
Douglas Gonser
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One afternoon my good friend was prompted by the Lord to leave his home near Clinton immediately. My friend worked all night, getting packed. The next morning, well before daylight, he took off towards the highway. The ice storm was already gathering power as he left. By the time he reached the highway ice was just beginning to form on the asphalt. It was touch and go all the way down the slippery mountain into Clinton. He was almost afraid to stop for gas because the storm was building up fast and there was already no way he could get back up the mountain. Therefore he prayed more earnestly and headed out for Conway. Again, he was just inches in front of the storm all the way. From Clinton all the way into Conway the Lord never let the storm get more than a few inches ahead of the hood of his pickup. From From Conway to Oklahoma City the storm never bothered him again. But when he locked the truck and walked up to the door of his Noble home the storm blasted at him again and hail and ice drummed on all the windows and doors for the rest of that night. While he had been going home to safety, my family and I were being hit by a massive ice storm that would change the scenery here for years to come. After the first fitful spattering of ice woke me up I immediately knew I had to use the holy priesthood to protect my family and the families that the Church had made us responsible for. As the limbs snapped into violently outside from the weight of ice it was like cannons going off around us from every direction. Quite literally it sounded like there was a horrible war raging outside. The only thing missing was some brave sentry rushing by with a hoarse shout calling us to battle -- "The red necks are coming, the red necks are coming!” Without hesitation I gathered my family and we knelt down in prayer and to this day I can truly testify there is truth in the words that no man is taller than when he is on his knees.
Not one limb came anywhere close to my home as it tore loose. That night I saw and felt the power of the holy priesthood at work, as peace and protection were poured upon us, and the Lord spoke aloud as in days of yore. “Fear not, and be still.” From that moment on we knew we were in God’s hands, to Him I give all praise. But the battle was not over. In face, as what must have been morning appeared -- I realized the battle had only just begun. The first night passed with us feeling safe and secure, no matter what we hear. When we ventured a few feet outside the next morning, to our surprise ot one limb or tree had fallen or struck any thing I owned.
If you had ever seen where my house stands you would find that amazing, miraculous. I confide that we call it a blessing and miracle without reservations. We truly were safe in our Father's hands. We had no way of knowing what condition to prepare ourselves against from one day to the next, which kept us living on the edge of suspense for the next few days. Bear in mind that all our power was shut off the first day, the first night of the ice storm. Having a fire place in our home we thought we would be warmer by sealing the room off and starting a fire, but….. With no electricity and no vent to vent the smoke out, the wind blew it all back in the house… it wasn’t too much later that we developed respiratory problems.
After the fourth day of the ice storm and being barricaded in -- not to mention freezing, I decided enough was enough…It’s propane time! But, having waited those 4 days later than everyone else I quickly discovered that next time I definitely needed to plan for this stuff a lot better, before another disaster happens.
At any rate, every store, every merchant was out of everything… By the time we could make it out of our yard and move towards town, cutting out a path with our saws just to make our way to the closest junction to our county road, we found power lines running across the road and they looked, DANGEROUS. The highway department, had spent a good 45 minutes watching us hack our way up there before saying anything, However, I was happy to find out that the other direction was clear… As you have guessed, by the time we made it all the way into town it was 5:30 p.m. We called just about every where trying to get a propane heater … Everyone was out, out, or closed, or out and closed. But I was then guided by The Spirit to a place that I already knew was closed but nevertheless I went back to check it anyway, and to my astonishment.. the light inside was still on. The owner of the shop had decided to bring along his dog to work that day, and the dog had locked him out of his truck and he had to wait there for someone to come help unlock it for him. Thus it was we were able to buy the last propane heater left, it seemed, in the whole state of Arkansas. I was sure happy enough for it to be. The next couple of days I was able to borrow a generator from a member of our church to help our food from going bad.. All of our food had been spared except my ice cream. Due to the power being off we were blessed to discover we have a water company with back up generators. Even though we had a lot of air pressure in the lines, it was making the water spit, and sputter. Even though I was annoyed at first with the pressure snarling in the lines, the couple weeks the power was out, the pressure cleansed fixed our toilets.
Another blessing was forced upon my attention; I was feeling calm and protected through it all. I don’t think I could have felt that way if I had not received and expanded spiritual jolt i spoke of earlier. All of us need a spiritual example in our lives. I am now able to recognize big and small spiritual examples. but nevertheless I keep finding more and more miracles in my life and all around me. I believe that all of us that are spiritually attuned will be more able to recognize them, and when we look for these spiritual manifestations we will always find them. It is man that refuses to see miracles, not God that refuses to offer them. When we come to the realization that miracles can be seen every day, it might still take examples from real life to help us notice the miracles at work each and every day in our lives. So I would like to take this time to thank my good friend and companion for all his good works in mine and my families life. Even if he didn’t realize it, I want him to know that my family and I appreciate all he has done for us. I bear witness to you -- the reader --these things are true and I leave these thoughts with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. |
